GUN control in retrograde signaling: How GENOMES UNCOUPLED proteins adjust nuclear gene expression to plastid biogenesis.

Communication between cellular compartments is vital for development and environmental adaptation. Signals emanating from organelles, so-called retrograde signals, coordinate nuclear gene expression with the developmental stage and/or the functional status of the organelle. Plastids (best known in their green photosynthesizing differentiated form, the chloroplasts) are the primary energy-producing compartment of plant cells, and the site for the biosynthesis of many metabolites, including fatty acids, amino acids, nucleotides, isoprenoids, tetrapyrroles, vitamins, and phytohormone precursors. Signals derived from plastids regulate the accumulation of a large set of nucleus-encoded proteins, many of which localize to plastids. A set of mutants defective in retrograde signaling (genomes uncoupled, or gun) was isolated over 25 years ago. While most GUN genes act in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, resolving the molecular function of GUN1, the proposed integrator of multiple retrograde signals, has turned out to be particularly challenging. Based on its amino acid sequence, GUN1 was initially predicted to be a plastid-localized nucleic acid-binding protein. Only recently, mechanistic information on the function of GUN1 has been obtained, pointing to a role in plastid protein homeostasis. This review article summarizes our current understanding of GUN-related retrograde signaling and provides a critical appraisal of the various proposed roles for GUNs and their respective pathways.

Super-Transparent Soil for In Situ Observation of Root Phenotypes.

Transparent soil (TS) presents immense potential for root phenotyping due to its ability to facilitate high-resolution imaging. However, challenges related to transparency, mechanical properties, and cost hinder its development. Herein, we introduce super-transparent soil (s-TS) prepared via the droplet method using low acyl gellan gum and hydroxyethyl cellulose crosslinked with magnesium ions. The refractive index of the hydroxyethyl cellulose solution (1.345) closely aligns with that of water (1.333) and the low acyl gellan gum solution (1.340), thereby significantly enhancing the transmittance of hydrogel-based transparent soil. Optimal transmittance (98.45%) is achieved with polymer concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 wt.% and ion concentrations between 0.01 and 0.09 mol·L-1. After 60 days of plant cultivation, s-TS maintains a transmittance exceeding 89.5%, enabling the detailed visualization of root growth dynamics. Furthermore, s-TS exhibits remarkable mechanical properties, withstanding a maximum compressive stress of 477 kPa and supporting a maximum load-bearing depth of 186 cm. This innovative approach holds promising implications for advanced root phenotyping studies, fostering the investigation of root heterogeneity and the development of selective expression under controlled conditions.

Mediating the slow dynamics of polyacrylates by small molecule-bridged hydrogen bonds.

This report studied the changes in the slow dynamics of polyacrylate by adding a hindered phenol (CA) capable of forming three intermolecular hydrogen bonds (inter-HBs) per molecule with the polymer chain. The CA molecule apparently diminishes the slow modes (with lower peak temperatures and peak heights) of the polyacrylate, although it has a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than the acrylic matrix, and the rigid CA-bridged HB network significantly amplifies the α-relaxation near Tg (with higher peak temperatures and peak heights). Consequently, the mixtures exhibit a diminishing slow mode that gradually merges with the prominent α-peak with increasing CA loadings. The anomalous dynamics concerning the opposite behaviors of the slow mode and α-relaxation was further rationalized in terms of dissociation of inter-HBs when the temperature is higher than Tg, together with the small molecule-alleviated macromolecular connectivity. This work provides essential insights into the slow dynamics of such HB-driven hybrids, and paves the way for tailoring the viscous flow properties of the hybrid material from a molecular level perspective.

Ultra-wideband tunable metamaterial perfect absorber based on vanadium dioxide.

A dynamically adjustable ultra-wideband metamaterial perfect absorber (MPA) is proposed which consists of three resonance rings based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) and a metal ground layer separated by a dielectric spacer. The simulation results show that the terahertz (THz) absorption bandwidth of more than 90% absorptance reaches 3.30 THz, which covers from 2.34 to 5.64 THz, under different incident polarization angles. The range is better than that of previous VO2-based reports. Moreover, when the conductivity of VO2 changes from 200 S/m to 2×105 S/m, the absorption peak intensity can be adjusted continuously from 4% to 100%. The key is to optimize the geometric structure through interference cancellation and impedance matching theory, to achieve better absorption bandwidth and efficiency. Besides, the terahertz absorber has a wide-angle absorption effect both in TE and TM waves. Thus, the designed absorber may have many potential applications in modulating, sensing and imaging technology.

Tuning the dynamic fragility of acrylic polymers by small molecules: the interplay of molecular structures.

This report studied changes in the dynamic fragility (m) of poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) by introducing guest hindered phenols capable of forming two or three intermolecular hydrogen bonds (inter-HBs) per molecule with the host polymer. The small molecules effectively decrease the m value, even if they apparently increase the glass transition temperature (Tg) of mixtures. The reduction in m was confirmed by enthalpy relaxation in two aspects: adding the guest molecule leads to a stronger cooling rate dependence of the limiting fictive temperature together with an apparent increase in aging rate of PBMA hybrids at low concentrations. By varying the molecule size and steric hindrance of the hydroxyl group on the hindered phenols, we clarified that m is primarily governed by the strength of inter-HB interactions, while the Tg value of mixtures depends on a combined effect of additive bulkiness and HB interaction. The anomalous dynamics was further rationalized not only by the HB-induced flexibility balance between side groups and backbone, but also by the reduction of cooperative rearranging sizes and alleviation of long-chain connectivity in such HB-driven hybrids.

Extensive Posttranscriptional Regulation of Nuclear Gene Expression by Plastid Retrograde Signals.

Retrograde signals emanate from the DNA-containing cell organelles (plastids and mitochondria) and control the expression of a large number of nuclear genes in response to environmental and developmental cues. Previous studies on retrograde signaling have mainly analyzed the regulation of nuclear gene expression at the transcript level. To determine the contribution of translational and posttranslational regulation to plastid retrograde signaling, we combined label-free proteomics with transcriptomic analysis of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings and studied their response to interference with the plastid gene expression pathway of retrograde signaling. By comparing the proteomes of the genomes uncoupled1 (gun1) and gun5 mutants with the wild type, we show that GUN1 is critical in the maintenance of plastid protein homeostasis (proteostasis) when plastid translation is blocked. Combining transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of the wild type and gun1, we identified 181 highly translationally or posttranslationally regulated (HiToP) genes. We demonstrate that HiToP photosynthesis-associated nuclear genes (PhANGs) are largely regulated by translational repression, while HiToP ribosomal protein genes are regulated posttranslationally, likely at the level of protein stability without the involvement of GUN1. Our findings suggest distinct posttranscriptional control mechanisms of nuclear gene expression in response to plastid-derived retrograde signals. They also reveal a role for GUN1 in the translational regulation of several PhANGs and highlight extensive posttranslational regulation that does not necessitate GUN1. This study advances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular communication and provides new insight into cellular responses to impaired plastid protein biosynthesis.

Photonic 2-D angle-of-arrival estimation based on an L-shaped antenna array for an early radar warning receiver.

Early radar warning is a significant step to lessen the fine scanning range of a receiver. The small size two-dimension (2-D) angle-of-arrival (AOA) estimation part with moderate accuracy and sensitivity is important for an early radar warning receiver. In our method, we specially design an L-shaped antenna array (L-sAA) and connect it with dual-polarization binary phase shift keying modulator (DP-BPSKM). The dual-sideband (DSB) modulation is performed to transfer most of the optical power to electrical, so as to increase the sensitivity. It is also possible to map the AOA information of the incoming beam to photo-detected electrical power without a high extinction ratio modulator or optical filter. During the estimation, the 2-D AOA is firstly measured, whose measurement range is 18.22°âˆ¼90° and the measurement error is lower than 1°. Then, based on the 2-D AOA estimation results, the third one is mathematically calculated to construct 3-D location of the target. Noteworthy, the amplitude comparison function (ACF) is adopted in this method to make the system response irrelative to the received signal power, which endows the system with signal power fluctuation immunity. Experimental results show that this method is capable of measuring a single-tone signal and a bandwidth signal. This structure is very concise and meets the potential of on-chip integration.

Control of Retrograde Signaling by Rapid Turnover of GENOMES UNCOUPLED1.

The exchange of signals between cellular compartments coordinates development and differentiation, modulates metabolic pathways, and triggers responses to environmental conditions. The proposed central regulator of plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling, GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 (GUN1), is present at very low levels, which has hampered the discovery of its precise molecular function. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) GUN1 protein accumulates to detectable levels only at very early stages of leaf development, where it functions in the regulation of chloroplast biogenesis. GUN1 mRNA is present at high levels in all tissues, but GUN1 protein undergoes rapid degradation (with an estimated half-life of ∼4 h) in all tissues where chloroplast biogenesis has been completed. The rapid turnover of GUN1 is controlled mainly by the chaperone ClpC1, suggesting degradation of GUN1 by the Clp protease. Degradation of GUN1 slows under stress conditions that alter retrograde signaling, thus ensuring that the plant has sufficient GUN1 protein. We also find that the pentatricopeptide repeat motifs of GUN1 are important determinants of GUN1 stability. Moreover, overexpression of GUN1 causes an early flowering phenotype, suggesting a function of GUN1 in developmental phase transitions beyond chloroplast biogenesis. Taken together, our results provide new insight into the regulation of GUN1 by proteolytic degradation, uncover its function in early chloroplast biogenesis, and suggest a role in developmental phase transitions.

High-level expression of the HIV entry inhibitor griffithsin from the plastid genome and retention of biological activity in dried tobacco leaves.

KEY MESSAGE: The potent anti-HIV microbicide griffithsin was expressed to high levels in tobacco chloroplasts, enabling efficient purification from both fresh and dried biomass, thus providing storable material for inexpensive production and scale-up on demand. The global HIV epidemic continues to grow, with 1.8 million new infections occurring per year. In the absence of a cure and an AIDS vaccine, there is a pressing need to prevent new infections in order to curb the disease. Topical microbicides that block viral entry into human cells can potentially prevent HIV infection. The antiviral lectin griffithsin has been identified as a highly potent inhibitor of HIV entry into human cells. Here we have explored the possibility to use transplastomic plants as an inexpensive production platform for griffithsin. We show that griffithsin accumulates in stably transformed tobacco chloroplasts to up to 5% of the total soluble protein of the plant. Griffithsin can be easily purified from leaf material and shows similarly high virus neutralization activity as griffithsin protein recombinantly expressed in bacteria. We also show that dried tobacco provides a storable source material for griffithsin purification, thus enabling quick scale-up of production on demand.

Unexpected segmental dynamics in polystyrene-grafted silica nanocomposites.

Establishing the relationship between interfacial layer chain packing and dynamics remains a continuing challenge in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). This issue is expected to be significant in our understanding of the mechanism of the dynamic response of such materials and the manner in which these parameters affect the macroscopic properties of PNCs. In this study, we report the dynamics of free polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix chains, as well as those of polymer chains surrounding the spherical silica nanoparticles (NPs) where silica NPs are either bare or PS grafted, to discriminate the role of grafted chains and interfacial interactions between grafted NPs and the matrix. The α-relaxation dynamics of the PS matrix is unaffected by silica NP loadings, it slows down in PMMA nanocomposites because of polymer-NP interfacial interactions and steric hindrance. More interestingly, we probe the enhanced mobility of the interfacial layer (α'-relaxation) in PNCs filled with grafted NPs, and this phenomenon is further corroborated by the accelerated Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars polarization process in the presence of grafted silica NPs. Moreover, the α'-relaxation time in the vicinity of glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix unexpectedly increases with increasing temperature. Such an anomalous temperature-dependent behavior can be attributed to the influence exerted by slow α-relaxation dynamics. Considering these phenomena and the mechanical properties, we propose a three-layer model to explain the observed behavior of grafted silica NP-filled nanocomposites. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms responsible for mechanical reinforcement and therefore provide guidance in designing PNCs with tunable macroscopic properties.

Functional conservation of GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 in plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling in tomato.

Retrograde signaling between plastids and the nucleus is vital for chloroplast biogenesis and environmental responses. GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 (GUN1) was proposed to be a central integrator of multiple retrograde signaling pathways in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). However, the function of GUN1 orthologs in other plant species has not been well studied. Here, we found that many GUN1 orthologs from the Solanaceae family have a short N-terminus before the first pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) motif which is predicted as intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Functional analyses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) GUN1 (SlGUN1), which does not contain N-terminal IDRs, show that it can complement the GUN phenotype of the Arabidopsis gun1 mutant (Atgun1). However, in contrast to the AtGUN1 protein, which does contain the N-terminal IDRs, the SlGUN1 protein is highly accumulated even after chloroplast biogenesis is completed, suggesting that the N-terminal IDRs may determine the stability of the GUN1 protein. Furthermore, we generated tomato Slgun1 genome-edited mutants via the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The Slgun1 mutants exhibited a typical GUN phenotype under lincomycin (Lin) or norflurazon (NF) treatment. Moreover, Slgun1 mutants are hypersensitive to low concentrations of Lin or NF. Taken together, our results suggest that, although lacking the N-terminal IDRs, SlGUN1 plays conserved roles in plastid retrograde signaling in tomato plants.

Synthesis and Properties of Bio-Based Polycarbonates Containing Silicone Blocks.

This study aims to investigate the effects of different hydroxy-terminated silicones on the properties of polycarbonate-silicone copolymers (ICS-PC) by introducing flexible and hydrophobic silicone into isosorbide-based polycarbonate through melt transesterification- polycondensation method. Through compatibility and transesterification experiments, it is confirmed that the alcohol-hydroxyl polydimethylsiloxane (a-PDMS) has higher reactivity and silicone conversion than the phenol-hydroxyl polydimethylsiloxane (p-PDMS), but the conversion does not exceed 81%. Polyether-modified silicone (PEMS) exhibits better compatibility and higher reactivity, thus resulting in higher conversion that can reach 86%. Effects of the type and content of silicone on the glass transition temperature (Tg), optical transparency, saturated water absorption, and mechanical strength of ICS-PCs were also discussed. It is found that p-PDMS has higher Tg, hydrophobicity, and mechanical strength with similar silicone content, but the total transmittance does not exceed 60%. In contrast, the PEMS system exhibits better optical transparency due to its improved compatibility with the PC matrix, with a total transmittance of up to 73%, Tg exceeding 150 °C while maintaining excellent flexibility and hydrophobicity. These results are helpful to further improve the comprehensive properties of bio-based polycarbonates.

Synthesis and hygrothermal aging of polycarbonates containing a bisphenol fluorene moiety.

This study aims to synthesize a specific type of polycarbonate with high refractive index, low birefringence, and resistance to hygrothermal aging by copolymerizing 2,2'-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)-1,1'-binaphthyl (BNE) with 9,9-bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]fluorene (BPEF). Comparative analysis revealed that the copolymer synthesized from BNE and BPEF demonstrated superior hydrolytic stability relative to the bisphenol A-based polycarbonate. This augmented stability can be attributed to the monomers' higher pKa values, rendering acidic substances less capable of dissociating and thereby mitigating ester hydrolysis under hygrothermal conditions. Furthermore, the investigation probed into the phenomenon of physical aging in copolymerized polycarbonate when exposed to hygrothermal environments. It was discerned that the enthalpy loss, observable under both dry and hygrothermal conditions, could be linearly correlated with the difference between the aging temperature and the glass transition temperature (Tg), signifying a close correlation between the magnitude of physical aging and Tg. A lower Tg in the copolymerized polycarbonate led to more pronounced physical aging within the same timeframe, resulting in an augmentation of tensile strength and modulus, while higher Tg effectively mitigated the physical aging phenomenon.

Arabidopsis ß-ketoacyl-[acyl carrier protein] synthase i is crucial for fatty acid synthesis and plays a role in chloroplast division and embryo development.

Lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in cell structure and in multiple plant developmental processes. ß-Ketoacyl-[acyl carrier protein] synthase I (KASI) catalyzes the elongation of de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis. Here, we report the functional characterization of KASI in the regulation of chloroplast division and embryo development. Phenotypic observation of an Arabidopsis thaliana T-DNA insertion mutant, kasI, revealed multiple morphological defects, including chlorotic (in netted patches) and curly leaves, reduced fertility, and semidwarfism. There are only one to five enlarged chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells of chlorotic sectors of young kasI rosette leaves, indicating suppressed chloroplast division under KASI deficiency. KASI deficiency results in a significant change in the polar lipid composition, which causes the suppressed expression of FtsZ and Min system genes, disordered Z-ring placement in the oversized chloroplast, and inhibited polymerization of FtsZ protein at mid-site of the chloroplast in kasI. In addition, KASI deficiency results in disrupted embryo development before the globular stage and dramatically reduces FA levels (~33.6% of the wild type) in seeds. These results demonstrate that de novo FA synthesis is crucial and has pleiotropic effects on plant growth. The polar lipid supply is important for chloroplast division and development, revealing a key function of FA synthesis in plastid development.

Chloroplast proteostasis: A story of birth, life, and death.

Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is a dynamic balance of protein synthesis and degradation. Because of the endosymbiotic origin of chloroplasts and the massive transfer of their genetic information to the nucleus of the host cell, many protein complexes in the chloroplasts are constituted from subunits encoded by both genomes. Hence, the proper function of chloroplasts relies on the coordinated expression of chloroplast- and nucleus-encoded genes. The biogenesis and maintenance of chloroplast proteostasis are dependent on synthesis of chloroplast-encoded proteins, import of nucleus-encoded chloroplast proteins from the cytosol, and clearance of damaged or otherwise undesired "old" proteins. This review focuses on the regulation of chloroplast proteostasis, its interaction with proteostasis of the cytosol, and its retrograde control over nuclear gene expression. We also discuss significant issues and perspectives for future studies and potential applications for improving the photosynthetic performance and stress tolerance of crops.

Preparation of Bisphenol-A and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Block Copolycarbonates by Melt Polycondensation: Effects of PDMS Chain Length on Conversion and Miscibility.

This study aimed to improve polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) conversion in the preparation of polycarbonate (PC)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) copolymer through melt polycondensation. We examined the transesterification process of PDMS with diphenyl carbonate (DPC) and its copolymerization products with bisphenol-A (BPA) for different chain lengths of PDMS. The key factors affecting PDMS conversion were investigated. Results showed that long-chain PDMS required a higher critical transesterification level (38.6%) to improve miscibility with DPC. During polycondensation, side reactions were more prone to occur when the equilibrium transesterification level of long-chain PDMS was lower. PDMS conversion was also lower when more short-chain PDMS was fed. Increasing the chain length of PDMS also reduced PDMS conversion. Notably, increasing the amount of KOH can significantly improve PDMS conversion throughout the polycondensation stage by increasing the equilibrium transesterification level of long-chain PDMS, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of side reactions.

Shanghai RAPESEED Database: a resource for functional genomics studies of seed development and fatty acid metabolism of Brassica.

The Shanghai RAPESEED Database (RAPESEED, http://rapeseed.plantsignal.cn/) was created to provide the solid platform for functional genomics studies of oilseed crops with the emphasis on seed development and fatty acid metabolism. The RAPESEED includes the resource of 8462 unique ESTs, of which 3526 clones are with full length cDNA; the expression profiles of 8095 genes and the Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE, 23,895 unique tags) and tag-to-gene data during seed development. In addition, a total of approximately 14,700 M3 mutant populations were generated by ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis and related seed quality information was determined using the Foss NIR System. Further, the TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) platform was established based on the generated EMS mutant population. The relevant information was collected in RAPESEED database, which can be searched through keywords, nucleotide or protein sequences, or seed quality parameters, and downloaded.

Ultra-Wideband RCS Reduction Based on Non-Planar Coding Diffusive Metasurface.

A novel non-planar coding metasurface optimized by discrete particle swarm algorithm (DPSO) is proposed in terms of the property of wideband radar cross-section (RCS) and diffuse scattering. The design consists of two unit cells, "0" and "1", which have a 180° ± 37° phase difference for phase interference cancellation. The 10 dB monostatic RCS reduction frequency range of the metasurface is from 6.4 to 29.6 GHz, and its bandwidth ratio is 4.62:1, under normal incidence of the two polarizations. Compared to the planar surface, the non-planar surface has a greater bandwidth with respect to the monostatic and bistatic RCS reduction. The results declare its properties of ultra-wideband, angle insensitivity, and polarization insensitivity. Finally, the theoretical analysis, simulation, and experimental results match perfectly, indicating that the metasurface can be used in the RCS reduction or other microwave applications with wider RCS reduction and diffuse scattering.

Control of retrograde signalling by protein import and cytosolic folding stress.

Communication between organelles and the nucleus is essential for fitness and survival. Retrograde signals are cues emitted from the organelles to regulate nuclear gene expression. GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 (GUN1), a protein of unknown function, has emerged as a central integrator, participating in multiple retrograde signalling pathways that collectively regulate the nuclear transcriptome. Here, we show that GUN1 regulates chloroplast protein import through interaction with the import-related chaperone cpHSC70-1. We demonstrated that overaccumulation of unimported precursor proteins (preproteins) in the cytosol causes a GUN phenotype in the wild-type background and enhances the GUN phenotype of the gun1 mutant. Furthermore, we identified the cytosolic HSP90 chaperone complex, induced by overaccumulated preproteins, as a central regulator of photosynthetic gene expression that determines the expression of the GUN phenotype. Taken together, our results suggest a model in which protein import capacity, folding stress and the cytosolic HSP90 complex control retrograde communication.

Sonochemical preparation of carbon nanosheet from carbon black.

Preparation of carbon nanosheet via ultrasound irradiation of carbon black under ambient conditions was reported for the first time. The structure of resulting carbon nanosheet was characterized by TEM, HRTEM, EDX and AFM. The experimental results showed that the carbon nanosheet is composed of ordered graphite carbon layers with a thickness of several nanometers.