Regulatory Peptide Encoded by the Primary Transcript of miR396a Influences Gene Expression and Root Development in Solanum lycopersicum.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the processing products of primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) that regulate the expression of target genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that some pri-miRNAs can encode small peptides (miPEPs) that perform significant biological functions. The function of miPEPs in tomatoes, an important model horticultural crop, remains to be investigated. Here, we characterized the primary sequence of tomato miR396a using 5' RACE and confirmed the presence of miPEP396a in tomato by verifying the translational activity of the start codon. It primarily resides in the nucleus to exert its function and additionally regulates the expression of pri-miR396a, miR396a, and its target genes. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that in vitro synthesis of miPEP396a significantly increased the expression of genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and hormones in tomato. Meanwhile, our in vitro application of miPEP396a in tomato significantly inhibited the elongation of tomato primary roots. In conclusion, our results indicate that miPEP396a regulates root growth in tomato by specifically promoting miR396a expression, provide insight into the function of miPEPs in tomato and potential applications.

Essential role of ABA signaling and related transcription factors in phenolic acid and lignin synthesis during muskmelon wound healing.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key phytohormone involved in wound healing in fruits and vegetables, while fluridone (FLD) is its synthetic inhibitor. However, it is unknown whether ABA signaling and downstream transcription factors are involved in the synthesis of phenolic acids and lignin monomers in muskmelon wounds, and the underlying mechanisms. In our study, exogenous ABA promoted endogenous ABA synthesis by increasing the levels of ß-carotenoid and zeaxanthin, activating 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) and zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP), facilitated ABA signaling by increasing the expression levels of protein phosphatases type 2C (CmPP2C) and ABA-responsive element binding factors (CmABF), upregulated the expression levels of CmMYB1 and CmWRKY1, and ABA induced phenylpropanoid metabolism by activating phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coenzyme A ligase (4CL), and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), which further increased the synthesis of phenolic acids and lignin monomers in muskmelon wounds during healing. Taken together, exogenous ABA induced phenylpropanoid metabolism and increased the synthesis of phenolic acid and lignin monomer in muskmelon wounds during healing, and may be involved in endogenous ABA synthesis and signaling and related transcription factors.

Zirconium­cerium modified polyvinyl alcohol/NaCMC biocomposite film: Synthesis of films through high-speed shear assisted technique and removal fluoride from water.

A new zirconium and cerium-modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) film (PVA/CMC-Zr-Ce) was synthesized thru a high-speed shear-assisted method and its adsorption for the removal of fluoride was studied, in which the NaCMC provided -COONa for ion exchange between Na and Zr-Ce, thus the loading amount of Zr-Ce on films was accordingly increased. The morphology and structure of PVA/CMC-Zr-Ce were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Besides, the mechanical properties, water contact angle, and swelling ratio of film were also evaluated. The addition of high-speed shear improved the dispersion of the emulsion system, and PVA/CMC-Zr-Ce film with good adsorption performance and film stability was prepared. While, it was found that the adsorption capacity could reach 67.25 mg/g and equilibrium time could reach 20 min. The adsorption mechanism of PVA/CMC-Zr-Ce revealed that ion exchange between hydroxide and fluoride, electrostatic interactions and complexation were the dominating influencing factors. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that PVA/CMC-Zr-Ce film- synthesized with high-speed shear assistance technique is a promising adsorbent for fluoride removal from water.

MYB24, MYB144, and MYB168 positively regulate suberin biosynthesis at potato tuber wounds during healing.

The essence of wound healing is the accumulation of suberin at wounds, which is formed by suberin polyphenolic (SPP) and suberin polyaliphatic (SPA). The biosynthesis of SPP and SPA monomers is catalyzed by several enzyme classes related to phenylpropanoid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism, respectively. However, how suberin biosynthesis is regulated at the transcriptional level during potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber wound healing remains largely unknown. Here, 6 target genes and 15 transcription factors related to suberin biosynthesis in tuber wound healing were identified by RNA-seq technology and qRT-PCR. Dual luciferase and yeast one-hybrid assays showed that StMYB168 activated the target genes StPAL, StOMT, and St4CL in phenylpropanoid metabolism. Meanwhile, StMYB24 and StMYB144 activated the target genes StLTP, StLACS, and StCYP in fatty acid metabolism, and StFHT involved in the assembly of SPP and SPA domains in both native and wound periderms. More importantly, virus-induced gene silencing in S. tuberosum and transient overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana assays confirmed that StMYB168 regulates the biosynthesis of free phenolic acids, such as ferulic acid. Furthermore, StMYB24/144 regulated the accumulation of suberin monomers, such as ferulates, α, ω-diacids, and ω-hydroxy acids. In conclusion, StMYB24, StMYB144, and StMYB168 have an elaborate division of labor in regulating the synthesis of suberin during tuber wound healing.

Autophagy functions as a cytoprotective mechanism by regulating programmed cell death during desiccation in Syntrichia caninervis.

Desiccation is a state of extreme water loss that is lethal to many plant species. Some desert plants have evolved unique strategies to cope with desiccation stress in their natural environment. Here we present the remarkable stress management mechanism of Syntrichia caninervis, a desert moss species which exhibits an 'A' category of desiccation tolerance. Our research demonstrated that desiccation stress triggers autophagy in S. caninervis while inhibiting Programmed Cell Death (PCD). Silencing of two autophagy-related genes, ATG6 and ATG2, in S. caninervis promoted PCD. Desiccation treatment accelerated cell death in ATG6 and ATG2 gene-silenced S. caninervis. Notably, trehalose was not detected during desiccation, and exogenous application of trehalose cannot activate autophagy. These results suggested that S. caninervis is independent of trehalose accumulation to triggered autophagy. Our results showed that autophagy function as prosurvival mechanism to enhance desiccation tolerance of S. caninervis. Our findings enrich the knowledge of the role of autophagy in plant stress response and may provide new insight into understanding of plant desiccation tolerance.

Predictive value of prenatal ultrasound combined with long non-coding RNA CRNDE of women for their postpartum lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication in obstetrics that needs early interaction. The study examined the expression change and clinical value of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) in DVT early diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred patients with DVT after delivery and 100 healthy parturients without DVT were enrolled. Serum samples were collected one day before delivery and received qRT-PCR for mRNA detection. Prenatal coagulation markers including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial prothrombin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB) and thrombin time (TT), D-dimer (D-D), thrombomodulin (TM), and peroxidase anti-peroxidase soluble complex (PAP) were tested. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for the diagnostic value assessment. RESULTS: LncRNA CRNDE levels increased remarkably in the serum of DVT patients compared with the healthy controls, which were negatively correlated with serum concentration of PT, APTT, and TT while positively correlated with FIB, D-D, TM, and PAP. Serum CRNDE (HR = 5.973, 95% CI = 2.990-11.933, p < .001) was independently related to the occurrence of DVT after delivery. Then, ROC curve using serum CRNDE showed a good diagnostic value for DVT with the AUC of 0.899. ROC curve of ultrasonography combined with CRNDE produced an AUC of 0.968, and both sensitivity and specificity were enhanced compared to a single indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of CRNDE level was an independent risk factor for postpartum DVT. Prenatal ultrasonography combined with CRNDE can improve the predictive efficacy for DVT.

Hydrogen gas: A new fresh keeping agent of perishable horticultural products.

Hydrogen gas (H2), a gaseous signaling molecule, is involved in plant growth and development. This review collates emerging evidence to show that H2 regulates the postharvest senescence of horticultural products through critical biochemical processes, including the improvement of antioxidant systems, the activation of cell wall metabolism, the promotion of energy metabolism, the inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis and the regulation of bacterial communities. Additionally, the interactions between H2 and other signaling molecules are also discussed. This paper presents the current status of H2 research in terms of its biological effects and safety in postharvest products by combining the research results on the molecular mechanisms of biological effects and H2 signaling. The action mechanism of H2 for postharvest preservation is also proposed, and it reflects the complexity and diversity of the pathways involved. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence has found a large number of downstream pathways or targets for the medical effects of H2. Therefore, the scientific and practical aspects of H2 biology are proposed for the postharvest preservation of horticultural products.

IGSF10 inhibits the metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma via the Spi-B/Integrin-ß1 signaling pathway.

IGSF10, a protein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily, is involved in regulating the early migration of neurons that produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone and performs a fundamental function in development. Our previous study confirmed that the mRNA expression level of IGSF10 may be a protective prognosis factor for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. However, the specific mechanisms of IGSF10 are still unclear. In this research, it was shown that the protein level of IGSF10 was down-modulated in LUAD tissues and had a link to the clinical and pathological characteristics as well as the patient's prognosis in LUAD. Importantly, IGSF10 regulates the metastatic ability of LUAD cells in vitro and in vivo. It was proven in a mechanistic sense that IGSF10 inhibits the capacity of LUAD cells to metastasize through the Spi-B/Integrin-ß1 signaling pathway. These findings gave credence to the premise that IGSF10 performed a crucial function in LUAD.

Molecular basis of hippopotamus ACE2 binding to SARS-CoV-2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a wide range of hosts, including hippopotami, which are semi-aquatic mammals and phylogenetically closely related to Cetacea. In this study, we characterized the binding properties of hippopotamus angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hiACE2) to the spike (S) protein receptor binding domains (RBDs) of the SARS-CoV-2 prototype (PT) and variants of concern (VOCs). Furthermore, the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the SARS-CoV-2 PT S protein complexed with hiACE2 was resolved. Structural and mutational analyses revealed that L30 and F83, which are specific to hiACE2, played a crucial role in the hiACE2/SARS-CoV-2 RBD interaction. In addition, comparative and structural analysis of ACE2 orthologs suggested that the cetaceans may have the potential to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. These results provide crucial molecular insights into the susceptibility of hippopotami to SARS-CoV-2 and suggest the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs spillover and the necessity for surveillance. IMPORTANCE: The hippopotami are the first semi-aquatic artiodactyl mammals wherein SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported. Exploration of the invasion mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 will provide important information for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in hippopotami, as well as other semi-aquatic mammals and cetaceans. Here, we found that hippopotamus ACE2 (hiACE2) could efficiently bind to the RBDs of the SARS-CoV-2 prototype (PT) and variants of concern (VOCs) and facilitate the transduction of SARS-CoV-2 PT and VOCs pseudoviruses into hiACE2-expressing cells. The cryo-EM structure of the SARS-CoV-2 PT S protein complexed with hiACE2 elucidated a few critical residues in the RBD/hiACE2 interface, especially L30 and F83 of hiACE2 which are unique to hiACE2 and contributed to the decreased binding affinity to PT RBD compared to human ACE2. Our work provides insight into cross-species transmission and highlights the necessity for monitoring host jumps and spillover events on SARS-CoV-2 in semi-aquatic/aquatic mammals.

Targeting JMJD1C to selectively disrupt tumor Treg cell fitness enhances antitumor immunity.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical for immune tolerance but also form a barrier to antitumor immunity. As therapeutic strategies involving Treg cell depletion are limited by concurrent autoimmune disorders, identification of intratumoral Treg cell-specific regulatory mechanisms is needed for selective targeting. Epigenetic modulators can be targeted with small compounds, but intratumoral Treg cell-specific epigenetic regulators have been unexplored. Here, we show that JMJD1C, a histone demethylase upregulated by cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, is essential for tumor Treg cell fitness but dispensable for systemic immune homeostasis. JMJD1C deletion enhanced AKT signals in a manner dependent on histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) demethylase and STAT3 signals independently of H3K9me2 demethylase, leading to robust interferon-γ production and tumor Treg cell fragility. We have also developed an oral JMJD1C inhibitor that suppresses tumor growth by targeting intratumoral Treg cells. Overall, this study identifies JMJD1C as an epigenetic hub that can integrate signals to establish tumor Treg cell fitness, and we present a specific JMJD1C inhibitor that can target tumor Treg cells without affecting systemic immune homeostasis.

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Protect Pancreatic ß Cells Against Ferroptosis via the Nrf2 Pathway in Type 2 Diabetes.

Pancreatic ß cell damage is the primary contributor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, the underlying mechanism remains nebulous. This study explored the role of ferroptosis in pancreatic ß cell damage and the protective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE). In T2DM model rats, the blood glucose, water intake, urine volume, HbA1c, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance were significantly increased, while the body weight and the insulin level were significantly decreased, indicating the successful establishment of the T2DM model. MIN6 mouse insulinoma ß cells were cultured in high glucose and sodium palmitate conditions to obtain a glycolipid damage model, which was administered with GSPE, ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), or nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) small interfering (si) RNA. GSPE and Fer-1 treatment significantly improved pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction and protected against cell death. Both treatments increased the superoxide dismutase and glutathione activity, reduced the malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species levels, and improved iron metabolism. Furthermore, the treatments reversed the expression of ferroptosis markers cysteine/glutamate transporter (XCT) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) caused by glycolipid toxicity. GSPE treatments activated the expression of Nrf2 and related proteins. These effects were reversed when co-transfected with si-Nrf2. GSPE inhibits ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, thus reducing ß-cell damage and dysfunction in T2DM. Therefore, GSPE is a potential treatment strategy against T2DM.

The lncRNA20718-miR6022-RLPs module regulates tomato resistance to Phytophthora infestans.

KEY MESSAGE: Sl-lncRNA20718 acts as an eTM of Sl-miR6022 regulating its expression thereby affecting SlRLP6/10 expression. SlRLP6/10 regulate PRs expression, ROS accumulation, and JA/ET content thereby affecting tomato resistance to P. infestans. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important horticultural and cash crop whose yield and quality can be severely affected by Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in plant defense responses against pathogens. The involvement of Sl-lncRNA20718 and Sl-miR6022 in tomato resistance to P. infestans as well as the targeting of Sl-miR6022 to receptor-like protein genes (RLPs) were predicted in our previous study. However, uncertainty exists regarding their potential interaction as well as the molecular processes regulating tomato resistance. Here, we found that Sl-lncRNA20718 and Sl-miR6022 are positive and negative regulators of tomato resistance to P. infestans by gain- and loss-of-function experiments, respectively. Overexpression of Sl-lncRNA20718 decreased the expression of Sl-miR6022, induced the expression of PRs, reduced the diameter of lesions (DOLs), thereby enhanced disease resistance. A six-point mutation in the binding region of Sl-lncRNA20718 to Sl-miR6022 disabled the interaction, indicating that Sl-lncRNA20718 acts as an endogenous target mimic (eTM) of Sl-miR6022. We demonstrated that Sl-miR6022 cleaves SlRLP6/10. Overexpression of Sl-miR6022 decreases the expression levels of SlRLP6/10, induces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces the content of JA and ET, thus inhibiting tomato resistance to P. infestans. In conclusion, our study provides detailed information on the lncRNA20718-miR6022-RLPs module regulating tomato resistance to P. infestans by affecting the expression of disease resistance-related genes, the accumulation of ROS and the phytohormone levels, providing a new reference for tomato disease resistance breeding.

Transcriptome Profiles Reveals ScDREB10 from Syntrichia caninervis Regulated Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis and Starch/Sucrose Metabolism to Enhance Plant Stress Tolerance.

Desiccation is a kind of extreme form of drought stress and desiccation tolerance (DT) is an ancient trait of plants that allows them to survive tissue water potentials reaching -100 MPa or lower. ScDREB10 is a DREB A-5 transcription factor gene from a DT moss named Syntrichia caninervis, which has strong comprehensive tolerance to osmotic and salt stresses. This study delves further into the molecular mechanism of ScDREB10 stress tolerance based on the transcriptome data of the overexpression of ScDREB10 in Arabidopsis under control, osmotic and salt treatments. The transcriptional analysis of weight gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis" and "starch and sucrose metabolism" were key pathways in the network of cyan and yellow modules. Meanwhile, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) also showed that "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis" and "starch and sucrose metabolism" pathways demonstrate the highest enrichment in response to osmotic and salt stress, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results confirmed that most genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis" and "starch and sucrose metabolism" pathways in overexpressing ScDREB10 Arabidopsis were up-regulated in response to osmotic and salt stresses, respectively. In line with the results, the corresponding lignin, sucrose, and trehalose contents and sucrose phosphate synthase activities were also increased in overexpressing ScDREB10 Arabidopsis under osmotic and salt stress treatments. Additionally, cis-acting promoter element analyses and yeast one-hybrid experiments showed that ScDREB10 was not only able to bind with classical cis-elements, such as DRE and TATCCC (MYBST1), but also bind with unknown element CGTCCA. All of these findings suggest that ScDREB10 may regulate plant stress tolerance by effecting phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. This research provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning ScDREB10-mediated stress tolerance and contributes to deeply understanding the A-5 DREB regulatory mechanism.

ROS scavenging enzyme-encoding genes play important roles in the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis response to extreme cold and desiccation stresses.

Abiotic stress is one of the major environmental constraints limiting plant growth. Syntrichia caninervis is one of the unique plant models that can cope with harsh environments. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a vital signaling molecule for protecting plants from oxidative stress, but research on ROS in S. caninervis is limited. Here, we identified 112 ROS genes in S. caninervis, including 40 GSTs, 51 PODs, 9 SODs, 6 CATs, 3 GPXs and 3 APXs families. GO and KEGG analyses showed that ROS genes are involved in responses to various stimuli and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. ROS genes contain many stress-responsive and hormonal cis-elements in their promoter regions. More ROS genes were induced by cold stress than desiccation stress, and both conditions changed the transcript abundances of several ROS genes. CAT and POD, H2O2, MDA, and GSH were also induced under biotic stress, specifically CAT activity. The results indicated that the ScCAT genes and their activities could be strongly associated with the regulation of ROS production. This is the first systematic identification of ROS genes in S. caninervis and our findings contribute to further research into the roles of ScROS adjustment under abiotic stress while also providing excellent genetic resources for plant breeding.

Establishment of an Efficient and Rapid Regeneration System for a Rare Shrubby Desert Legume Eremosparton songoricum.

Eremosparton songoricum (Litv.) Vass. is a rare and extremely drought-tolerant legume shrub that is distributed in Central Asia. E. songoricum naturally grows on bare sand and can tolerate multiple extreme environmental conditions. It is a valuable and important plant resource for desertification prevention and environmental protection, as well as a good material for the exploration of stress tolerance mechanisms and excellent tolerant gene mining. However, the regeneration system for E. songoricum has not yet been established, which markedly limits the conservation and utilization of this endangered and valuable desert legume. Assimilated branches derived from seedlings were cultured on several MS mediums supplemented with various concentrations of TDZ or 6-BA in different combinations with NAA. The results showed that the most efficient multiplication medium was MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg/L 6-BA and 0.1 mg/L NAA. The most efficient rooting medium was WPM + 25 g/L sucrose. The highest survival rate (77.8%) of transplantation was achieved when the ratio of sand to vermiculite was 1:1. In addition, the optimal callus induction medium was MS + 30 g/L sucrose + 2 mg/L TDZ + 0.5 mg/L NAA in darkness. The E. songoricum callus treated with 100 mM NaCl and 300 mM mannitol on MS medium could be used in proper salt and drought stress treatments in subsequent gene function tests. A rapid and efficient regeneration system for E. songoricum that allowed regeneration within 3 months was developed. The protocol will contribute to the conservation and utilization of this rare and endangered desert stress-tolerant species and also provide a fundamental basis for gene functional analysis in E. songoricum.

Metabolomic Analysis of the Desert Moss Syntrichia caninervis Provides Insights into Plant Dehydration and Rehydration Response.

Desiccation-tolerant (DT) plants can survive extreme dehydration and tolerate the loss of up to 95% of their water content, making them ideal systems to determine the mechanism behind extreme drought stress and identify potential approaches for developing drought-tolerant crops. The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis is an emerging model for extreme desiccation tolerance that has benefited from high-throughput sequencing analyses, allowing identification of stress-tolerant genes; however, its metabolic response to desiccation is unknown. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of S. caninervis at six dehydration-rehydration stages revealed 912 differentially abundant compounds, belonging to 93 metabolic classes. Many (256) metabolites accumulated during rehydration in S. caninervis, whereas only 71 accumulated during the dehydration period, in contrast to the pattern observed in vascular DT plants. During dehydration, nitrogenous amino acids (l-glutamic acid and cysteinylglycine), alkaloids (vinleurosine) and steroids (physalin D) accumulated, whereas glucose 6-phosphate decreased. During rehydration, γ-aminobutyric acid, glucose 6-phosphate and flavonoids (karanjin and aromadendrin) accumulated, as did the plant hormones 12-oxo phytodienoic acid (12-OPDA) and trans-zeatin riboside. The contents ofl-arginine, maltose, turanose, lactulose and sucrose remained high throughout dehydration-rehydration. Syntrichia caninervis thus accumulates antioxidants to scavenge reactive oxygen species, accumulating nitrogenous amino acids and cytoprotective metabolites and decreasing energy metabolism to enter a protective state from dehydration-induced damage. During subsequent rehydration, many metabolites rapidly accumulated to prevent oxidative stress and restore physiological activities while repairing cells, representing a more elaborate rehydration repair mechanism than vascular DT plants, with a faster and greater accumulation of metabolites. This metabolic kinetics analysis in S. caninervis deepens our understanding of its dehydration mechanisms and provides new insights into the different strategies of plant responses to dehydration and rehydration.

Secreted Peptide SpPIP1 Modulates Disease Resistance and Salt Tolerance in Tomato.

Tomato is a globally important horticultural and economic crop, but its productivity is severely affected by various stresses. Plant small secretory peptides have been identified as crucial mediators in plant resistance. Here, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis and identified the prePIP1 gene from Solanum pimpinellifolium (SpprePIP1), as an ortholog of Arabidopsis prePIP1 encoding the precursor protein of PAMP-induced SSP 1. The expression level of SpprePIP1 is transcriptionally induced in tomato upon infection with Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans), the pathogen responsible for late blight. Overexpression of SpprePIP1 resulted in enhanced tomato resistance to P. infestans. In addition, exogenous application of SpPIP1, whether through spraying or irrigation, improved tomato resistance by enhancing the transcript accumulations of pathogenesis-related proteins, as well as reactive oxygen species and the jasmonic acid (JA) levels. Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed the potential contributions of JA and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis to SpPIP1-induced tomato immunity. Additionally, SpPIP1 may strengthen tomato resistance to salt stress through the ABA signaling pathway. Overall, our findings demonstrate that SpPIP1 positively regulates tomato tolerance to P. infestans and salt stress, making it a potential plant elicitor for crop protection in an environmentally friendly way.

Sequence-based drug design as a concept in computational drug design.

Drug development based on target proteins has been a successful approach in recent decades. However, the conventional structure-based drug design (SBDD) pipeline is a complex, human-engineered process with multiple independently optimized steps. Here, we propose a sequence-to-drug concept for computational drug design based on protein sequence information by end-to-end differentiable learning. We validate this concept in three stages. First, we design TransformerCPI2.0 as a core tool for the concept, which demonstrates generalization ability across proteins and compounds. Second, we interpret the binding knowledge that TransformerCPI2.0 learned. Finally, we use TransformerCPI2.0 to discover new hits for challenging drug targets, and identify new target for an existing drug based on an inverse application of the concept. Overall, this proof-of-concept study shows that the sequence-to-drug concept adds a perspective on drug design. It can serve as an alternative method to SBDD, particularly for proteins that do not yet have high-quality 3D structures available.

Zirconium/lanthanum-modified chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol composite adsorbent for rapid removal of fluoride.

A novel and easily separable adsorbent in the shape of a membrane for the rapid removal of fluoride from water was prepared after testing Zr, La and LaZr to modify a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol composite adsorbent (CS/PVA-Zr, CS/PVA-La, CS/PVA-LA-Zr). The CS/PVA-La-Zr composite adsorbent can remove a large amount of fluoride within 1 min of contact time, and the adsorption equilibrium can be reached within 15 min. The fluoride adsorption behavior of the CS/PVA-La-Zr composite can be described by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherms models. The morphology and structure of the adsorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption mechanism was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and which showed that ion exchange occurred mainly with hydroxide and fluoride ions. This study showed that an easily operable, low-cost and environmentally friendly CS/PVA-La-Zr has the potential to remove fluoride effectively from drinking water in a short time.

Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression Analysis of Transcription Factor Families in Desert Moss Syntrichia caninervis under Abiotic Stresses.

Transcription factor (TF) families play important roles in plant stress responses. S. caninervis is a new model moss for plant desiccation tolerance studies. Here, we report a high-confidence identification and characterization of 591 TFs representing 52 families that covered all chromosomes in S. caninervis. GO term and KEGG pathway analysis showed that TFs were involved in the regulation of transcription, DNA-templated, gene expression, binding activities, plant hormone signal transduction, and circadian rhythm. A number of TF promoter regions have a mixture of various hormones-related cis-regulatory elements. AP2/ERF, bHLH, MYB, and C2H2-zinc finger TFs were the overrepresented TF families in S. caninervis, and the detailed classification of each family is performed based on structural features. Transcriptome analysis revealed the transcript abundances of some ScAP2/ERF, bHLH, MYB, and C2H2 genes were accumulated in the treated S. caninervis under cold, dehydration, and rehydration stresses. The RT-qPCR results strongly agreed with RNA-seq analysis, indicating these TFs might play a key role in S. caninervis response to abiotic stress. Our comparative TF characterization and classification provide the foundations for functional investigations of the dominant TF genes involved in S. caninervis stress response, as well as excellent stress tolerance gene resources for plant stress resistance breeding.