Oligo-Not Only for Silencing: Overlooked Potential for Multidirectional Action in Plants.

Oligo technology is a low-cost and easy-to-implement method for direct manipulation of gene activity. The major advantage of this method is that gene expression can be changed without requiring stable transformation. Oligo technology is mainly used for animal cells. However, the use of oligos in plants seems to be even easier. The oligo effect could be similar to that induced by endogenous miRNAs. In general, the action of exogenously introduced nucleic acids (Oligo) can be divided into a direct interaction with nucleic acids (genomic DNA, hnRNA, transcript) and an indirect interaction via the induction of processes regulating gene expression (at the transcriptional and translational levels) involving regulatory proteins using endogenous cellular mechanisms. Presumed mechanisms of oligonucleotides' action in plant cells (including differences from animal cells) are described in this review. Basic principles of oligo action in plants that allow bidirectional changes in gene activity and even those that lead to heritable epigenetic changes in gene expression are presented. The effect of oligos is related to the target sequence at which they are directed. This paper also compares different delivery methods and provides a quick guide to using IT tools to help design oligonucleotides.

Metabolism of the Cyanogenic Glucosides in Developing Flax: Metabolic Analysis, and Expression Pattern of Genes.

Cyanogenic glucosides (CG), the monoglycosides linamarin and lotaustralin, as well as the diglucosides linustatin and neolinustatin, have been identified in flax. The roles of CG and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), specifically the product of their breakdown, differ and are understood only to a certain extent. HCN is toxic to aerobic organisms as a respiratory inhibitor and to enzymes containing heavy metals. On the other hand, CG and HCN are important factors in the plant defense system against herbivores, insects and pathogens. In this study, fluctuations in CG levels during flax growth and development (using UPLC) and the expression of genes encoding key enzymes for their metabolism (valine N-monooxygenase, linamarase, cyanoalanine nitrilase and cyanoalanine synthase) using RT-PCR were analyzed. Linola cultivar and transgenic plants characterized by increased levels of sulfur amino acids were analyzed. This enabled the demonstration of a significant relationship between the cyanide detoxification process and general metabolism. Cyanogenic glucosides are used as nitrogen-containing precursors for the synthesis of amino acids, proteins and amines. Therefore, they not only perform protective functions against herbivores but are general plant growth regulators, especially since changes in their level have been shown to be strongly correlated with significant stages of plant development.