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1.
Optogenetic and Chemical Induction Systems for Regulation of Transgene Expression in Plants: Use in Basic and Applied Research.
Omelina, ES, Yushkova, AA, Motorina, DM, Volegov, GA, Kozhevnikova, EN, Pindyurin, AV
International journal of molecular sciences. 2022;(3)
Abstract
Continuous and ubiquitous expression of foreign genes sometimes results in harmful effects on the growth, development and metabolic activities of plants. Tissue-specific promoters help to overcome this disadvantage, but do not allow one to precisely control transgene expression over time. Thus, inducible transgene expression systems have obvious benefits. In plants, transcriptional regulation is usually driven by chemical agents under the control of chemically-inducible promoters. These systems are diverse, but usually contain two elements, the chimeric transcription factor and the reporter gene. The commonly used chemically-induced expression systems are tetracycline-, steroid-, insecticide-, copper-, and ethanol-regulated. Unlike chemical-inducible systems, optogenetic tools enable spatiotemporal, quantitative and reversible control over transgene expression with light, overcoming limitations of chemically-inducible systems. This review updates and summarizes optogenetic and chemical induction methods of transgene expression used in basic plant research and discusses their potential in field applications.
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Trichoderma: The Current Status of Its Application in Agriculture for the Biocontrol of Fungal Phytopathogens and Stimulation of Plant Growth.
Tyśkiewicz, R, Nowak, A, Ozimek, E, Jaroszuk-Ściseł, J
International journal of molecular sciences. 2022;(4)
Abstract
Rhizosphere filamentous fungi of the genus Trichoderma, a dominant component of various soil ecosystem mycobiomes, are characterized by the ability to colonize plant roots. Detailed knowledge of the properties of Trichoderma, including metabolic activity and the type of interaction with plants and other microorganisms, can ensure its effective use in agriculture. The growing interest in the application of Trichoderma results from their direct and indirect biocontrol potential against a wide range of soil phytopathogens. They act through various complex mechanisms, such as mycoparasitism, the degradation of pathogen cell walls, competition for nutrients and space, and induction of plant resistance. With the constant exposure of plants to a variety of pathogens, especially filamentous fungi, and the increased resistance of pathogens to chemical pesticides, the main challenge is to develop biological protection alternatives. Among non-pathogenic microorganisms, Trichoderma seems to be the best candidate for use in green technologies due to its wide biofertilization and biostimulatory potential. Most of the species from the genus Trichoderma belong to the plant growth-promoting fungi that produce phytohormones and the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase enzyme. In the present review, the current status of Trichoderma is gathered, which is especially relevant in plant growth stimulation and the biocontrol of fungal phytopathogens.
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3.
Harnessing phytomicrobiome signals for phytopathogenic stress management.
Sharma, A, Raina, M, Kumar, D, Singh, A, Chugh, S, Jain, S, Kumar, M, Rustagi, A
Journal of biosciences. 2022
Abstract
Harnessing the phytomicrobiome offers a great opportunity to improve plant productivity and quality of food. In the recent past, several phytomicrobiome microbes have been explored for their potential involvement in increasing crop yield. This review strategically targets to harness the various dimensions of phytomicrobiome for biotic stress management of crop plants. The tripartite interaction involving plantmicrobiome-pathogen has been discussed. Positive interventions in this system so as to achieve disease tolerant plants has been forayed upon. The different signalling molecules sent out by interacting partners of phytomicrobiome have also been analysed. The novel concept of artificial microbial consortium in mitigation of pathogenic stress has also been touched upon. The aim of this review is to explore the hidden potential of phytomicrobiome diversity as a potent tool against phytopathogens, thereby improving crop health and productivity in a sustainable way.
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4.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) Role in Plant Development and Coping with Different Stresses.
Manghwar, H, Hussain, A, Ali, Q, Liu, F
International journal of molecular sciences. 2022;(3)
Abstract
Plants are vulnerable to a number of abiotic and biotic stresses that cause a substantial decrease in the production of plants. Plants respond to different environmental stresses by experiencing a series of molecular and physiological changes coordinated by various phytohormones. The use of phytohormones to alleviate stresses has recently achieved increasing interest. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of polyhydroxylated steroidal phytohormones that are required for the development, growth, and productivity of plants. These hormones are involved in regulating the division, elongation, and differentiation of numerous cell types throughout the entire plant life cycle. BR studies have drawn the interest of plant scientists over the last few decades due to their flexible ability to mitigate different environmental stresses. BRs have been shown in numerous studies to have a positive impact on plant responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses. BR receptors detect the BR at the cell surface, triggering a series of phosphorylation events that activate the central transcription factor (TF) Brassinazole-resistant 1 (BZR1), which regulates the transcription of BR-responsive genes in the nucleus. This review discusses the discovery, occurrence, and chemical structure of BRs in plants. Furthermore, their role in the growth and development of plants, and against various stresses, is discussed. Finally, BR signaling in plants is discussed.
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5.
The phosphoinositide PI(3,5)P2 inhibits the activity of plant NHX proton/potassium antiporters: Advantages of a novel electrophysiological approach.
Gradogna, A, Pardo, JM, Carpaneto, A
Biomolecular concepts. 2022;(1):119-125
Abstract
In the present work, we discuss the way in which the parallel application of the patch-clamp technique and the 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) fluorescence detection for recording luminal proton changes allows the functional characterization of nonelectrogenic potassium/proton vacuolar antiporters of the NHX (Na+/H+ exchanger) family. Moreover, we review the functional role of the tonoplast-specific phosphoinositide PI(3,5)P2, able to simultaneously inhibit the activity of NHXs and CLC-a transporters, whose coordinated action can play an important role in the water balance of plant cells.
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6.
Species divergence with gene flow and hybrid speciation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Wu, S, Wang, Y, Wang, Z, Shrestha, N, Liu, J
The New phytologist. 2022;(2):392-404
Abstract
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) sensu lato (sl), comprising the platform, the Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains, is characterized by a large number of endemic plant species. This evolutionary cradle may have arisen from explosive species diversification because of geographic isolation. However, gene flow has been widely detected during the speciation processes of all groups examined, suggesting that natural selection may have also played an important role during species divergence in this region. In addition, natural hybrids have been recovered in almost all species-rich genera. This suggests that numerous species in this region are still 'on the speciation pathway to complete reproductive isolation (RI)'. Such hybrids could directly develop into new species through hybrid polyploidization and homoploid hybrid speciation (HHS). HHS may take place more easily than previously thought through alternate inheritance of alleles of parents at multiple RI loci. Therefore, isolation, selection and hybridization could together have promoted species diversification of numerous plant genera on the QTP sl. We emphasize the need for identification and functional analysis of alleles of major genes for speciation, and especially encourage investigations of parallel adaptive divergence causing RI across different lineages within similar but specific habitats in this region.
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7.
The Potential Mechanisms by which Artemisinin and Its Derivatives Induce Ferroptosis in the Treatment of Cancer.
Hu, Y, Guo, N, Yang, T, Yan, J, Wang, W, Li, X
Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. 2022;:1458143
Abstract
Artemisinin (ART) is a bioactive molecule derived from the Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua (Asteraceae). ART and artemisinin derivatives (ARTs) have been effectively used for antimalaria treatment. The structure of ART is composed of a sesquiterpene lactone, including a peroxide internal bridge that is essential for its activity. In addition to their well-known antimalarial effects, ARTs have been shown recently to resist a wide range of tumors. The antineoplastic mechanisms of ART mainly include cell cycle inhibition, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, DNA damage, and ferroptosis. In particular, ferroptosis is a novel nonapoptotic type of programmed cell death. However, the antitumor mechanisms of ARTs by regulating ferroptosis remain unclear. Through this review, we focus on the potential antitumor function of ARTs by acting on ferroptosis, including the regulation of iron metabolism, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). This article systematically reviews the recent progress in ferroptosis research and provides a basis for ARTs as an anticancer drug in clinical practice.
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8.
Sculpting the soil microbiota.
Custódio, V, Gonin, M, Stabl, G, Bakhoum, N, Oliveira, MM, Gutjahr, C, Castrillo, G
The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology. 2022;(3):508-522
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Abstract
Soil is a living ecosystem, the health of which depends on fine interactions among its abiotic and biotic components. These form a delicate equilibrium maintained through a multilayer network that absorbs certain perturbations and guarantees soil functioning. Deciphering the principles governing the interactions within soils is of critical importance for their management and conservation. Here, we focus on soil microbiota and discuss the complexity of interactions that impact the composition and function of soil microbiota and their interaction with plants. We discuss how physical aspects of soils influence microbiota composition and how microbiota-plant interactions support plant growth and responses to nutrient deficiencies. We predict that understanding the principles determining the configuration and functioning of soil microbiota will contribute to the design of microbiota-based strategies to preserve natural resources and develop more environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
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Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Defense in Plants under Salinity.
Hasanuzzaman, M, Raihan, MRH, Masud, AAC, Rahman, K, Nowroz, F, Rahman, M, Nahar, K, Fujita, M
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(17)
Abstract
The generation of oxygen radicals and their derivatives, known as reactive oxygen species, (ROS) is a part of the signaling process in higher plants at lower concentrations, but at higher concentrations, those ROS cause oxidative stress. Salinity-induced osmotic stress and ionic stress trigger the overproduction of ROS and, ultimately, result in oxidative damage to cell organelles and membrane components, and at severe levels, they cause cell and plant death. The antioxidant defense system protects the plant from salt-induced oxidative damage by detoxifying the ROS and also by maintaining the balance of ROS generation under salt stress. Different plant hormones and genes are also associated with the signaling and antioxidant defense system to protect plants when they are exposed to salt stress. Salt-induced ROS overgeneration is one of the major reasons for hampering the morpho-physiological and biochemical activities of plants which can be largely restored through enhancing the antioxidant defense system that detoxifies ROS. In this review, we discuss the salt-induced generation of ROS, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense of plants under salinity.
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Legacy of Plant Virology in Croatia-From Virus Identification to Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, Genomics and Beyond.
Škorić, D, Černi, S, Ćurković-Perica, M, Ježić, M, Krajačić, M, Šeruga Musić, M
Viruses. 2021;(12)
Abstract
This paper showcases the development of plant virology in Croatia at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, from its beginning in the 1950s until today, more than 70 years later. The main achievements of the previous and current group members are highlighted according to various research topics and fields. Expectedly, some of those accomplishments remained within the field of plant virology, but others make part of a much-extended research spectrum exploring subviral pathogens, prokaryotic plant pathogens, fungi and their viruses, as well as their interactions within ecosystems. Thus, the legacy of plant virology in Croatia continues to contribute to the state of the art of microbiology far beyond virology. Research problems pertinent for directing the future research endeavors are also proposed in this review.