TBL38 atypical homogalacturonan-acetylesterase activity and cell wall microdomain localization in Arabidopsis seed mucilage secretory cells.

Plant cell walls constitute complex polysaccharidic/proteinaceous networks whose biosynthesis and dynamics implicate several cell compartments. The synthesis and remodeling of homogalacturonan pectins involve Golgi-localized methylation/acetylation and subsequent cell wall-localized demethylation/deacetylation. So far, TRICHOME BIREFRINGENCE-LIKE (TBL) family members have been described as Golgi-localized acetyltransferases targeting diverse hemicelluloses or pectins. Using seed mucilage secretory cells (MSCs) from Arabidopsis thaliana, we demonstrate the atypical localization of TBL38 restricted to a cell wall microdomain. A tbl38 mutant displays an intriguing homogalacturonan immunological phenotype in this cell wall microdomain and in an MSC surface-enriched abrasion powder. Mass spectrometry oligosaccharide profiling of this fraction reveals an increased homogalacturonan acetylation phenotype. Finally, TBL38 displays pectin acetylesterase activity in vitro. These results indicate that TBL38 is an atypical cell wall-localized TBL that displays a homogalacturonan acetylesterase activity rather than a Golgi-localized acetyltransferase activity as observed in previously studied TBLs. TBL38 function during seed development is discussed.

Quasi-2D Fermi surface in the anomalous superconductor UTe2.

The heavy fermion paramagnet UTe2 exhibits numerous characteristics of spin-triplet superconductivity. Efforts to understand the microscopic details of this exotic superconductivity have been impeded by uncertainty regarding the underlying electronic structure. Here we directly probe the Fermi surface of UTe2 by measuring magnetic quantum oscillations in pristine quality crystals. We find an angular profile of quantum oscillatory frequency and amplitude that is characteristic of a quasi-2D Fermi surface, which we find is well described by two cylindrical Fermi sheets of electron- and hole-type respectively. Additionally, we find that both cylindrical Fermi sheets possess considerable undulation but negligible small-scale corrugation, which may allow for their near-nesting and therefore promote magnetic fluctuations that enhance the triplet pairing mechanism. Importantly, we find no evidence for the presence of any 3D Fermi surface sections. Our results place strong constraints on the possible symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in UTe2.

Cell-wall microdomain remodeling controls crucial developmental processes.

Plant cell walls display cellular and subcellular specificities. At the subcellular level, wall regional territories with specific compositions are necessary for macroscopic developmental processes. These regional specificities were named differently throughout the years, and are unified here under the term 'cell-wall microdomains' that define the local composition and organization of wall polymers underlying territories of wall loosening and/or softening or stiffening. We review the occurrence and developmental role of wall microdomains in different cell types. We primarily focus on the contribution of two categories of wall-remodeling molecular actors: fine-tuning of homogalacturonan (HG; pectin) demethylesterification patterns and two classes of oxidoreductases [class III peroxidases (CIII PRXs) and laccases (LACs)], but we also highlight two different molecular scaffolds recently identified for positioning specific CIII PRXs.

Phage-specific metabolic reprogramming of virocells.

Ocean viruses are abundant and infect 20-40% of surface microbes. Infected cells, termed virocells, are thus a predominant microbial state. Yet, virocells and their ecosystem impacts are understudied, thus precluding their incorporation into ecosystem models. Here we investigated how unrelated bacterial viruses (phages) reprogram one host into contrasting virocells with different potential ecosystem footprints. We independently infected the marine Pseudoalteromonas bacterium with siphovirus PSA-HS2 and podovirus PSA-HP1. Time-resolved multi-omics unveiled drastically different metabolic reprogramming and resource requirements by each virocell, which were related to phage-host genomic complementarity and viral fitness. Namely, HS2 was more complementary to the host in nucleotides and amino acids, and fitter during infection than HP1. Functionally, HS2 virocells hardly differed from uninfected cells, with minimal host metabolism impacts. HS2 virocells repressed energy-consuming metabolisms, including motility and translation. Contrastingly, HP1 virocells substantially differed from uninfected cells. They repressed host transcription, responded to infection continuously, and drastically reprogrammed resource acquisition, central carbon and energy metabolisms. Ecologically, this work suggests that one cell, infected versus uninfected, can have immensely different metabolisms that affect the ecosystem differently. Finally, we relate phage-host genome complementarity, virocell metabolic reprogramming, and viral fitness in a conceptual model to guide incorporating viruses into ecosystem models.

The mechanics of head-supported load carriage by Nepalese porters.

In the Everest valley of Nepal, because of the rugged mountain terrain, roads are nothing more than dirt paths and all material must be conveyed on foot. The Nepalese porters routinely carry head-supported loads, which often exceed their body mass, over long distances up and down the steep mountain footpaths. In Africa, women transport their loads economically thanks to an energy-saving gait adaptation. We hypothesized that the Nepalese porters may have developed a corresponding mechanism. To investigate this proposition, we measured the mechanical work done during level walking in Nepalese porters while carrying different loads at several speeds. Our results show that the Nepalese porters do not use an equivalent mechanism as the African women to reduce work. In contrast, the Nepalese porters develop an equal amount of total mechanical work as Western control subjects while carrying loads of 0 to 120% of their body mass at all speeds measured (0.5-1.7 m s-1), making even more impressive their ability to carry loads without any apparent mechanically determined tricks. Nevertheless, our results show that the Nepalese porters have a higher efficiency, at least at slow speeds and high loads.

Effect of load and speed on the energetic cost of human walking.

It is well established that the energy cost per unit distance traveled is minimal at an intermediate walking speed in humans, defining an energetically optimal walking speed. However, little is known about the optimal walking speed while carrying a load. In this work, we studied the effect of speed and load on the energy expenditure of walking. The O(2) consumption and CO(2) production were measured in ten subjects while standing or walking at different speeds from 0.5 to 1.7 m s(-1) with loads from 0 to 75% of their body mass (M(b)). The loads were carried in typical trekker's backpacks with hip support. Our results show that the mass-specific gross metabolic power increases curvilinearly with speed and is directly proportional to the load at any speed. For all loading conditions, the gross metabolic energy cost (J kg(-1) m(-1)) presents a U-shaped curve with a minimum at around 1.3 m s(-1). At that optimal speed, a load up to 1/4 M(b) seems appropriate for long-distance walks. In addition, the optimal speed for net cost minimization is around 1.06 m s(-1) and is independent of load.

Mechanical work and muscular efficiency in walking children.

The effect of age and body size on the total mechanical work done during walking is studied in children of 3-12 years of age and in adults. The total mechanical work per stride (W tot) is measured as the sum of the external work, W ext (i.e. the work required to move the centre of mass of the body relative to the surroundings), and the internal work, W int (i.e. the work required to move the limbs relative to the centre of mass of the body, W int,k, and the work done by one leg against the other during the double contact period, W int,dc). Above 0.5 m s(-1), both W ext) and W int,k, normalised to body mass and per unit distance (J kg(-1) m(-1)), are greater in children than in adults; these differences are greater the higher the speed and the younger the subject. Both in children and in adults, the normalised W int,dc shows an inverted U-shape curve as a function of speed, attaining a maximum value independent of age but occurring at higher speeds in older subjects. A higher metabolic energy input (J kg(-1) m(-1)) is also observed in children, although in children younger than 6 years of age, the normalised mechanical work increases relatively less than the normalised energy cost of locomotion. This suggests that young children have a lower efficiency of positive muscular work production than adults during walking. Differences in normalised mechanical work, energy cost and efficiency between children and adults disappear after the age of 10.

The double contact phase in walking children.

During walking, when both feet are on the ground (the double contact phase), the legs push against each other, and both positive and negative work are done simultaneously. The work done by one leg on the other (W(int,dc)) is not counted in the classic measurements of the positive muscular work done during walking. Using force platforms, we studied the effect of speed and age (size) on W(int,dc). In adults and in 3-12-year-old children, W(int,dc) (J kg(-1) m(-1)) as a function of speed shows an inverted U-shaped curve, attaining a maximum value that is independent of size but that occurs at higher speeds in larger subjects. Normalising the speed with the Froude number shows that W(int,dc) is maximal at about 0.3 in both children and adults. Differences due to size disappear for the most part when normalised with the Froude number, indicating that these speed-dependent changes are primarily a result of body size changes. At its maximum, W(int,dc) represents more than 40% of W(ext) (the positive work done to move the centre of mass of the body relative to the surroundings) in both children and adults.