Lateral Root Initiation in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus): What Does the Expression Pattern of Rapid Alkalinization Factor 34 (RALF34) Tell Us?

In Arabidopsis, the small signaling peptide (peptide hormone) RALF34 is involved in the gene regulatory network of lateral root initiation. In this study, we aimed to understand the nature of the signals induced by RALF34 in the non-model plant cucumber (Cucumis sativus), where lateral root primordia are induced in the apical meristem of the parental root. The RALF family members of cucumber were identified using phylogenetic analysis. The sequence of events involved in the initiation and development of lateral root primordia in cucumber was examined in detail. To elucidate the role of the small signaling peptide CsRALF34 and its receptor CsTHESEUS1 in the initial stages of lateral root formation in the parental root meristem in cucumber, we studied the expression patterns of both genes, as well as the localization and transport of the CsRALF34 peptide. CsRALF34 is expressed in all plant organs. CsRALF34 seems to differ from AtRALF34 in that its expression is not regulated by auxin. The expression of AtRALF34, as well as CsRALF34, is regulated in part by ethylene. CsTHESEUS1 is expressed constitutively in cucumber root tissues. Our data suggest that CsRALF34 acts in a non-cell-autonomous manner and is not involved in lateral root initiation in cucumber.

Cell Wall Integrity Signaling in Fruit Ripening.

Plant cell walls are essential structures for plant growth and development as well as plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Thus, plants have evolved signaling mechanisms to monitor the changes in the cell wall structure, triggering compensatory changes to sustain cell wall integrity (CWI). CWI signaling can be initiated in response to environmental and developmental signals. However, while environmental stress-associated CWI signaling has been extensively studied and reviewed, less attention has been paid to CWI signaling in relation to plant growth and development under normal conditions. Fleshy fruit development and ripening is a unique process in which dramatic alternations occur in cell wall architecture. Emerging evidence suggests that CWI signaling plays a pivotal role in fruit ripening. In this review, we summarize and discuss the CWI signaling in relation to fruit ripening, which will include cell wall fragment signaling, calcium signaling, and NO signaling, as well as Receptor-Like Protein Kinase (RLKs) signaling with an emphasis on the signaling of FERONIA and THESEUS, two members of RLKs that may act as potential CWI sensors in the modulation of hormonal signal origination and transduction in fruit development and ripening.

THESEUS1 is involved in tunicamycin-induced root growth inhibition, ectopic lignin deposition, and cell wall damage-induced unfolded protein response.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates unfolded protein responses (UPRs), such as promoting protein folding under the control of specific gene expression. Our previous study showed that ER stress induced by ER stress inducers such as tunicamycin (Tm), an inhibitor of N-linked glycan synthesis, causes ectopic lignin deposition in Arabidopsis roots, but the relationship between UPR and ectopic lignin deposition remains unclear. The receptor-like kinase THESEUS1 (THE1) has been shown to sense cell wall damage (CWD) induced in Arabidopsis by cellulose synthase inhibitors such as isoxaben (ISO) and to activate ectopic lignin deposition. In this study, we assessed the involvement of THE1 in ectopic lignin deposition caused by the ER stress inducer Tm. The loss-of-function mutation of THE1, the1-3, suppressed Tm-induced root growth inhibition and ectopic lignin deposition, revealing that THE1 is involved in root growth defects and ectopic lignin deposition caused by ER stress. Similarly, ISO treatment induced ectopic lignin deposition as well as the expression of the UPR marker genes binding protein 3 (BiP3) and ER-localized DnaJ 3b (ERdj3b). Conversely, in the the1-3 mutant, ISO-induced ectopic lignin deposition and the expression of BiP3 and ERdj3b were suppressed. These results showed that THE1 is involved in not only root growth inhibition and ectopic lignin deposition caused by ER stress but also CWD-induced UPR.

THESEUS1 activation by stress: isomerization and peptide perception?

Plant cell-wall perturbation upon environmental stress triggers adaptive cellular responses mediated by plasma membrane-resident sensors. We discuss a recent study by Bacete et al. showing that THESEUS1 (THE1) regulates plant cell adaptive responses to cell-wall disruption and update the working model for THE1 activation.

Persistence Conditions of Institutional Entities: Investigating Copredication Through a Forced-Choice Experiment.

The conditions under which certain complex polysemous nominals can sustain coherent sense relations (informally, can "survive") is investigated through a two-alternative forced choice experiment. Written scenarios were constructed which permitted copredication, through which multiple, semantically different sense types are associated with a single nominal. Participants were presented with two scenarios involving a polysemous nominal (e.g., bank, city) and had to select which scenario (and, hence, which combination of predicates) appeared to be the most prototypical, faithful realization of the nominal. In order to achieve this, an additional manipulation was added, such that the number of senses hosted by each forced choice was either equal (2 senses choice vs. 2 senses choice) or unequal (1 sense choice vs. 2/3 senses choice). In order to address certain concerns in the literature about prototypicality, a core question addressed was whether the institutional sense of the nominals strongly determined the option chosen by participants, or whether the number of senses more strongly predicted this. It was found that the best predictor of sense "survival" was not sense frequency, but rather sense complexity or approximation to the institutional sense.

Proceeding report of the Fourth Symposium on Hidradenitis Suppurativa Advances 2019.

The Fourth Annual Symposium on Hidradenitis Suppurativa (SHSA) took place on November 1-3, 2019, at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. This symposium was a joint meeting of the US Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation and the Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation. This cross-disciplinary meeting with experts from around the world was an opportunity to discuss the most recent advances in the study of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) pathogenesis, clinical trials, classification, scoring systems, complementary/alternative medical treatments, diet, pain management, surgical and laser treatment, and ultrasonographic assessment. A special preconference workshop was held on the use of neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser hair reduction, sinus tract deroofing, and carbon dioxide laser excision with ultrasonographic mapping and tumescent anesthesia for the treatment of HS. The focused workshops on establishing an HS clinic, setting up an HS support group, the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Prospective Observational Registry and Biospecimen Repository, and wound care were held during the meeting. A special program called HS Ambassadors was established for patients who may have questions about the conference presentations, and in addition, a meet and greet for patients and HS Ambassadors was arranged. To facilitate networking between those early in their careers and clinical and research experts, a mentoring reception was held.

The most recent advances in understanding and managing hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, and debilitating skin disease of the hair follicle unit that typically develops after puberty. HS has a significant negative impact on both the quality of life (QOL) of patients affected by this disease as well as family members and caregivers. However, the pathogenesis of HS is multifactorial and still remains to be fully elucidated, which makes the development of treatments difficult. The last 10 years have seen a surge in HS research, and many new findings have come to light, yet much more remains to be elucidated. Physicians must employ a multidisciplinary approach to maximally address all facets of HS. Clinical characteristics of the disease that differ between females and males as well as across different races and ethnic groups must be considered. Targeted topical, oral, and injectable therapies continue to be developed for HS as a greater understanding of the pathogenesis is reached. However, randomized controlled trials regarding dietary factors that may contribute to HS are needed to meet our patients' growing concerns and questions about the role of diet in HS pathogenesis. Finally, improved outcome measures are needed to standardize HS severity and grading between physicians and clinical trials, and a more diverse representation of HS populations is needed in clinical trials.

Early Stages of Morpho amathonte (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Morphinae) and its Variation on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

The Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica shows some local variations in its four Morpho species. The goal of this article is to compare the life cycle of M. amathonte from different areas in Costa Rica and South America. The immature stages were found on Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. and then photographed and described so as to illustrate its morphology and behavior. It is clear, that M. amathonte from the South Pacific side of Costa Rica comes from one isolated population and demonstrates a cryptic nature between the two forms present in Costa Rica.

Las cuatro especies de Morpho de la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica muestra algunas variaciones locales. El objetivo de este artículo es comparar el ciclo de vida de M. amathonte de diferentes localidades de Costa Rica y Sudamérica. Los estadios inmaduros se encontraron en Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. y luego fotografiados y descritos para ilustrar su morfología y comportamiento. Es evidente que M. amathonte del lado del Pacífico de Costa Rica proviene de una población aislada y demuestra una naturaleza críptica entre las dos formas presentes en Costa Rica.