Cytonuclear interplay in auto- and allopolyploids: a multifaceted perspective from the Festuca-Lolium complex.

Restoring cytonuclear stoichiometry is necessary after whole-genome duplication (WGD) and interspecific/intergeneric hybridization in plants. We investigated this phenomenon in auto- and allopolyploids of the Festuca-Lolium complex providing insights into the mechanisms governing cytonuclear interactions in early polyploid and hybrid generations. Our study examined the main processes potentially involved in restoring the cytonuclear balance after WGD comparing diploids and new and well-established autopolyploids. We uncovered that both the number of chloroplasts and the number of chloroplast genome copies were significantly higher in the newly established autopolyploids and grew further in more established autopolyploids. The increase in the copy number of the chloroplast genome exceeded the rise in the number of chloroplasts and fully compensated for the doubling of the nuclear genome. In addition, changes in nuclear and organelle gene expression were insignificant. Allopolyploid Festuca × Lolium hybrids displayed potential structural conflicts in parental protein variants within the cytonuclear complexes. While biased maternal allele expression has been observed in numerous hybrids, our results suggest that its role in cytonuclear stabilization in the Festuca × Lolium hybrids is limited. This study provides insights into the restoration of the cytonuclear stoichiometry, yet it emphasizes the need for future research to explore post-transcriptional regulation and its impact on cytonuclear gene expression stoichiometry. Our findings may enhance the understanding of polyploid plant evolution, with broader implications for the study of cytonuclear interactions in diverse biological contexts.

Transgenic tobacco co-expressing flavodoxin and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase confers cadmium tolerance through boosting antioxidant capacity.

Excessive heavy metal (HM) levels in soil have become a source of concern due to their adverse effects on human health and the agriculture industry. Soil contamination by HMs leads to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) within the plant cell and disruption of photosynthesis-related proteins. The response of tobacco lines overexpressing flavodoxin (Fld) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) to cadmium (Cd) toxicity was investigated in this study. PCR results demonstrated the expected amplicon length of each gene in the transgenic lines. Absolute qRT-PCR demonstrates a single copy of T-DNA integration into each transgenic line. Relative qRT-PCR confirmed overexpression of Fld and BADH in transgenic lines. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was measured under Cd toxicity stress and revealed that transgenic lines had a higher Fv/Fm than wild-type (WT) plants. Accumulation of proline, glycine betaine (GB), and higher activity of antioxidant enzymes alongside lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was indicative of a robust antioxidant system in transgenic plants. Therefore, performing a loop in reducing the ROS produced in the photosynthesis electron transport chain and stimulating the ROS scavenger enzyme activity improved the plant tolerance to Cd stress.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD Val-9Ala) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species plays an important role in human carcinogenesis. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Val-9Ala in the mitochondrial target sequence is the best known polymorphism of this enzyme. The purpose of the current research was to assess the association of MnSOD Val-9Ala genotypes with the risk of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case- control study covered 54 gastric cancer patients compared to 100 cancer free subjects as controls. Extraction of DNA was performed on bioptic samples and genotypes were identified with a polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: The frequencies of MnSOD Ala/Ala, Ala/Val and Val/Val genotypes in healthy individuals were 24.3, 66.7 and 9%, respectively. However, in gastric cancer patients, Ala/Ala, Ala/Val and Val/Val were observed in 24.0, 48.0 and 28.0% (p=0.01). In patients the frequency of MnSOD Val allele was higher (52%) compared to that in controls (42%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show a positive association between MnSOD Val-9Ala gene polymorphism and risk of gastric cancer disease in Iranian population.