External Signals Research Articles

Исследование сигнала внешнего магнитного поля асинхронного электродвигателя в режиме выбега

Currently, one of the important scientific tasks is the development and improvement of methods for non-destructive testing of asynchronous electric motors during operation. One of the promising areas of diagnostics is the use of an external magnetic field signal. However, its study in the run-down mode is not given due attention by the authors of scientific publications, despite a number of advantages of this signal. Therefore, the aim of this research is to confirm the possibility to record and study the signal of the radial component of the induction of the external magnetic field in the run-down mode of an asynchronous motor. So, the aim is relevant. The research is carried out using several test benches, real low-voltage and high-voltage asynchronous motors and a simulation model of an asynchronous electric motor designed in the Ansys software package. To process the signals, namely, to construct the frequency-time spectra of the external magnetic field in the run-down mode, the authors have used a program based on the Short Time Fourier Transform using the Flat-top window as a window function to more accurately determine the amplitudes of the harmonic components. During the research conducted on test benches, it has been found that the external magnetic field of the motor in the run-down mode will exist due to the phenomenon of residual magnetization. The possibility of modeling asynchronous motors considering residual magnetization has been proven and the reliability of the resulting model has been confirmed. The spectra of external magnetic field signals on real motors and simulation models in the run-down mode are presented. The external magnetic field signal in the run-down mode can be recorded both on simulation models and on real low-voltage and high-voltage asynchronous electric motors. During further research, it is planned to analyze the possibility of identifying faults in asynchronous motors using this signal.

BdRCN4, a Brachypodium distachyon TFL1 homologue, is involved in regulation of apical meristem fate.

In higher plants, the shift from vegetative to reproductive development is governed by complex interplay of internal and external signals. TERMINALFLOWER1 (TFL1) plays a crucial role in the regulation of flowering time and inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana. This study aimed to explore the function of BdRCN4, a homolog of TFL1 in Brachypodium distachyon, through functional analyses in mutant and transgenic plants. The results revealed that overexpression of BdRCN4 in B. distachyon leads to an extended vegetative phase and reduced production of spikelets. Similar results were found in A. thaliana, where constitutive expression of BdRCN4 promoted a delay in flowering time, followed by the development of hypervegetative shoots, with no flowers or siliques produced. Our results suggest that BdRCN4 acts as a flowering repressor analogous to TFL1, negatively regulating AP1, but no LFY expression. To further validate this hypothesis, a 35S::LFY-GR co-transformation approach on 35::BdRCN4 lines was performed. Remarkably, AP1 expression levels and flower formation were restored to normal in co-transformed plants when treated with dexamethasone. Although further molecular studies will be necessary, the evidence in B. distachyon support the idea that a balance between LFY and BdRCN4/TFL1 seems to be essential for activating AP1 expression and initiating floral organ identity gene expression. This study also demonstrates interesting conservation through the molecular pathways that regulate flowering meristem transition and identity across the evolution of monocot and dicot plants.

Bionic fusion perspective: Audiovisual-motivated integration network for solar irradiance prediction

Accurate and reliable prediction of solar irradiance (SI) is an important requirement to develop solar energy while a challenging task due to stochastic and nonlinear data characteristics. Additionally, most deep networks show powerful prediction capabilities but lack the supports from biological science, reflecting that bionically-inspired networks in SI analysis are still not enough explored. To this end, this paper proposes an audiovisual-motivated Transformer-CNN integration network, called ATI-net, for predicting SI. The audiovisual cognition gives a superior design framework for ATI-net with signal capture, signal analysis, and prediction blocks. In the first block, through mimicking the function of both eye and ear in external signal conversion, multi-scale features are extracted by incorporating multi-branch convolutions with varying kernels, where the Mish function addresses the problem that traditional ReLU function stops learning when the input is negative. In the second block, through mimicking the function of left and right hemispheres in neuronal signal analysis, two structures triggered by Transformers and convolutions are designed to remember temporal evolutionary rules, where residual connections are beneficial to mine deep information and avoid forgetting. In the third block, through mimicking the function of a higher brain region in generating understanding, the above information is integrated to make the SI prediction. Besides, the nonlinear dependencies and linear relationships are independently extracted and integrated into the ATI-net, which not only reduces information interference but is consistent with the “divide and conquer” idea. Experimental results show that the ATI-net outperforms 18 benchmarks, and average improvements of root mean squared error (RMSE) are 26.28% and 26.01% for two datasets, respectively. In summary, the ATI-net is one of the reliable alternatives to SI prediction.

An intermediate Rb–E2F activity state safeguards proliferation commitment

Tissue repair, immune defence and cancer progression rely on a vital cellular decision between quiescence and proliferation1,2. Mammalian cells proliferate by triggering a positive feedback mechanism3,4. The transcription factor E2F activates cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), which in turn phosphorylates and inactivates the E2F inhibitor protein retinoblastoma (Rb). This action further increases E2F activity to express genes needed for proliferation. Given that positive feedback can inadvertently amplify small signals, understanding how cells keep this positive feedback in check remains a puzzle. Here we measured E2F and CDK2 signal changes in single cells and found that the positive feedback mechanism engages only late in G1 phase. Cells spend variable and often extended times in a reversible state of intermediate E2F activity before committing to proliferate. This intermediate E2F activity is proportional to the amount of phosphorylation of a conserved T373 residue in Rb that is mediated by CDK2 or CDK4/CDK6. Such T373-phosphorylated Rb remains bound on chromatin but dissociates from it once Rb is hyperphosphorylated at many sites, which fully activates E2F. The preferential initial phosphorylation of T373 can be explained by its relatively slower rate of dephosphorylation. Together, our study identifies a primed state of intermediate E2F activation whereby cells sense external and internal signals and decide whether to reverse and exit to quiescence or trigger the positive feedback mechanism that initiates cell proliferation.

RNA polymerase III is involved in regulating Plasmodium falciparum virulence

While often undetected and untreated, persistent seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections remain a global public health problem. Despite the presence of parasites in the peripheral blood, no symptoms develop. Disease severity is correlated with the levels of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) adhering within blood vessels. Changes in iRBC adhesion capacity have been linked to seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections, however how this is occurring is still unknown. Here, we present evidence that RNA polymerase III (RNA Pol III) transcription in Plasmodium falciparum is downregulated in field isolates obtained from asymptomatic individuals during the dry season. Through experiments with in vitro cultured parasites, we have uncovered an RNA Pol III-dependent mechanism that controls pathogen proliferation and expression of a major virulence factor in response to external stimuli. Our findings establish a connection between P. falciparum cytoadhesion and a non-coding RNA family transcribed by Pol III. Additionally, we have identified P. falciparum Maf1 as a pivotal regulator of Pol III transcription, both for maintaining cellular homeostasis and for responding adaptively to external signals. These results introduce a novel perspective that contributes to our understanding of P. falciparum virulence. Furthermore, they establish a connection between this regulatory process and the occurrence of seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections.

RNA polymerase III is involved in regulating Plasmodium falciparum virulence.

While often undetected and untreated, persistent seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections remain a global public health problem. Despite the presence of parasites in the peripheral blood, no symptoms develop. Disease severity is correlated with the levels of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) adhering within blood vessels. Changes in iRBC adhesion capacity have been linked to seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections, however how this is occurring is still unknown. Here, we present evidence that RNA polymerase III (RNA Pol III) transcription in Plasmodium falciparum is downregulated in field isolates obtained from asymptomatic individuals during the dry season. Through experiments with in vitro cultured parasites, we have uncovered an RNA Pol III-dependent mechanism that controls pathogen proliferation and expression of a major virulence factor in response to external stimuli. Our findings establish a connection between P. falciparum cytoadhesion and a non-coding RNA family transcribed by Pol III. Additionally, we have identified P. falciparum Maf1 as a pivotal regulator of Pol III transcription, both for maintaining cellular homeostasis and for responding adaptively to external signals. These results introduce a novel perspective that contributes to our understanding of P. falciparum virulence. Furthermore, they establish a connection between this regulatory process and the occurrence of seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections.

Upper level and cross hierarchical regulation of predominantly expressed phenolic genes in maize

There is strong interest in deciphering the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that govern plant specialized metabolism to assist in plant breeding. Here, we investigated the GRN governing phenolic biosynthesis pathways from which ∼ 8000 secondary metabolites are derived in plants. Previously it was established that 19 predominantly expressed phenolic (PEP) genes in maize are sufficient to explain >70 % of the metabolic flux through the core phenylpropanoid, monolignol, and flavonoid branches of this pathway. A yeast-1-hybrid (Y1H) gene centric screening approach was employed to discover upper level (tier 2, 3, and 4) regulators of maize PEP genes. These regulators were further examined by co-expression analyses, and a subset of protein-DNA interactions (PDIs) validated in vivo by ChIP-qPCR and luciferase reporter assays in maize protoplasts. This study reveals a comprehensive GRN composed of 429 PDIs that exhibits hubs with high connectivity and cross hierarchical regulation of PEP genes in different branches of the pathway. The core GRN includes TFs that are conserved in other plant species and that are implicated in phenolic gene regulation including ZmMYB40/53/100, ZmMADS9, and ZmWD40.1/PAC1. The GRN also includes conserved TFs (e.g., ZmC3H9, ZmHB20/79, ZmNAC103/123, ZmMYB19/26, ZmMYBR87, ZmDOF3, ZmbZIP67, ZmTCP30, and ZmbHLH128) which indicate that maize PEP genes are developmentally regulated but also fall under the control of biotic and abiotic stress signals. Together, the maize PEP GRN provides a complex regulatory mechanism that has evolved to coordinately regulate many phenolic genes in response to multiple internal and external signals and can guide efforts aimed at manipulating phenolic levels in plants towards targeted breeding improvement.

New insights into the relationship between clock genes and ascorbic acid metabolism in spinach during pre- and postharvest periods

In this study, the effects of light and dark conditions on the expression of candidate clock genes (SoLHY, SoPRR5, and SoTOC1), photoreceptor genes (SoPHYA, SoPHYB, and SoZTL), ascorbic acid (AsA) synthesis genes (SoVTC2 and SoGLDH), an AsA degradation gene (SoAPX), an AsA regeneration gene (SoMDHAR), and AsA content of spinach during the pre- and postharvest periods were investigated. The AsA content decreased under constant dark storage, whereas the AsA content was efficiently maintained under a light/dark cycle. Gene expression with rhythmic signals confirmed by the JTK_CYCLE method (P ≤ 0.05) was used for the analysis of partial correlation coefficients. Strong correlations between SoLHY and SoVTC2 were observed under all investigated conditions. AsA synthesis regulation via the clock gene LHY was stable and likely not altered by harvesting stress and/or external light stimuli. After harvesting, SoPRR5 was negatively correlated with SoVTC2. This finding suggested that a reduction in the SoPRR5 expression level might be an alternative way to induce/maintain AsA content during storage. Additionally, the expression of the photoreceptor genes SoPHYA and SoZTL was moderately correlated with that of SoVTC2 during cultivation. Surprisingly, these correlations were not observed during storage even in the presence of light. Instead, SoPHYA expression was correlated with that of another AsA synthesis gene, SoGLDH, under light/dark storage. Moreover, under constant dark storage, SoZTL expression showed a strong correlation with SoVTC2. The considerable variation in the relationship between the expression levels of AsA-related genes and photoreceptor genes during cultivation and storage indicates the contribution of light regulators to maintaining AsA rhythm in spinach. In summary, this study is the first to suggest possible crosslinking of external signals (light/dark), photoreceptor genes, clock genes, and AsA metabolism genes, which are related to changes in the quality of spinach during the pre- and postharvest periods.

A novel method for estimating properties of attentional oscillators reveals an age-related decline in flexibility.

Dynamic attending theory proposes that the ability to track temporal cues in the auditory environment is governed by entrainment, the synchronization between internal oscillations and regularities in external auditory signals. Here, we focused on two key properties of internal oscillators: their preferred rate, the default rate in the absence of any input; and their flexibility, how they adapt to changes in rhythmic context. We developed methods to estimate oscillator properties (Experiment 1) and compared the estimates across tasks and individuals (Experiment 2). Preferred rates, estimated as the stimulus rates with peak performance, showed a harmonic relationship across measurements and were correlated with individuals' spontaneous motor tempo. Estimates from motor tasks were slower than those from the perceptual task, and the degree of slowing was consistent for each individual. Task performance decreased with trial-to-trial changes in stimulus rate, and responses on individual trials were biased toward the preceding trial's stimulus properties. Flexibility, quantified as an individual's ability to adapt to faster-than-previous rates, decreased with age. These findings show domain-specific rate preferences for the assumed oscillatory system underlying rhythm perception and production, and that this system loses its ability to flexibly adapt to changes in the external rhythmic context during aging.

HigA2 (Rv2021c) Is a Transcriptional Regulator with Multiple Regulatory Targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are the major mechanism for persister formation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Previous studies found that HigBA2 (Rv2022c-Rv2021c), a predicted type II TA system of Mtb, could be activated for transcription in response to multiple stresses such as anti-tuberculosis drugs, nutrient starvation, endure hypoxia, acidic pH, etc. In this study, we determined the binding site of HigA2 (Rv2021c), which is located in the coding region of the upstream gene higB2 (Rv2022c), and the conserved recognition motif of HigA2 was characterized via oligonucleotide mutation. Eight binding sites of HigA2 were further found in the Mtb genome according to the conserved motif. RT-PCR showed that HigA2 can regulate the transcription level of all eight of these genes and three adjacent downstream genes. DNA pull-down experiments showed that twelve functional regulators sense external regulatory signals and may regulate the transcription of the HigBA2 system. Of these, Rv0903c, Rv0744c, Rv0474, Rv3124, Rv2603c, and Rv3583c may be involved in the regulation of external stress signals. In general, we identified the downstream target genes and possible upstream regulatory genes of HigA2, which paved the way for the illustration of the persistence establishment mechanism in Mtb.

Adaptive Signal Modulation Evolved by the Inherent Nonlinearity of Phase-Change Quantum-Dot String.

To simulate a topological neural network handling weak signals via stochastic resonance (SR), it is necessary to introduce an inherent nonlinearity into nanoscale devices. We use the self-assembly method to successfully fabricate a phase-change quantum-dot string (PCQDS) crossing Pd/Nb:AlNO/AlNO/Nb:AlNO/Pd multilayer. The inherent nonlinearity of phase change couples with electron tunneling so that PCQDS responds to a long signal sequence in a modulated output style, in which the pulse pattern evolves to that enveloped by two sets of periodic wave characterized by neural action potential. We establish an SR mode consisting of several two-state systems in which dissipative tunneling is coupled to environment. Size oscillations owing to NbO QDs adaptively adjust barriers and wells, such that tunneling can be periodically modulated by either asymmetric energy or local temperature. When the external periodic signals are applied, the system first follows the forcing frequency. Subsequently, certain PCQDs oscillate independently and consecutively to produce complicated frequency and amplitude modulations.

Exosomal miR-17-5p derived from epithelial cells is involved in aberrant epithelium-fibroblast crosstalk and induces the development of oral submucosal fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic and inflammatory mucosal disease caused by betel quid chewing, which belongs to oral potentially malignant disorders. Abnormal fibroblast differentiation leading to disordered collagen metabolism is the core process underlying OSF development. The epithelium, which is the first line of defense against the external environment, can convert external signals into pathological signals and participate in the remodeling of the fibrotic microenvironment. However, the specific mechanisms by which the epithelium drives fibroblast differentiation remain unclear. In this study, we found that Arecoline-exposed epithelium communicated with the fibrotic microenvironment by secreting exosomes. MiR-17-5p was encapsulated in epithelial cell-derived exosomes and absorbed by fibroblasts, where it promoted cell secretion, contraction, migration and fibrogenic marker (α-SMA and collagen type I) expression. The underlying molecular mechanism involved miR-17-5p targeting Smad7 and suppressing the degradation of TGF-β receptor 1 (TGFBR1) through the E3 ubiquitination ligase WWP1, thus facilitating downstream TGF-β pathway signaling. Treatment of fibroblasts with an inhibitor of miR-17-5p reversed the contraction and migration phenotypes induced by epithelial-derived exosomes. Exosomal miR-17-5p was confirmed to function as a key regulator of the phenotypic transformation of fibroblasts. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Arecoline triggers aberrant epithelium-fibroblast crosstalk and identified that epithelial cell-derived miR-17-5p mediates fibroblast differentiation through the classical TGF-β fibrotic pathway, which provided a new perspective and strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of OSF.

A prefrontal motor circuit initiates persistent movement

Persistence reinforces continuous action, which benefits animals in many aspects. Diverse external or internal signals may trigger animals to start a persistent movement. However, it is unclear how the brain decides to persist with current actions by selecting specific information. Using single-unit extracellular recordings and opto-tagging in awake mice, we demonstrated that a group of dorsal mPFC (dmPFC) motor cortex projecting (MP) neurons initiate a persistent movement by selectively encoding contextual information rather than natural valence. Inactivation of dmPFC MP neurons impairs the initiation and reduces neuronal activity in the insular and motor cortex. After the persistent movement is initiated, the dmPFC MP neurons are not required to maintain it. Finally, a computational model suggests that a successive sensory stimulus acts as an input signal for the dmPFC MP neurons to initiate a persistent movement. These results reveal a neural initiation mechanism on the persistent movement.

Learning Soft Millirobot Multimodal Locomotion with Sim-to-Real Transfer.

With wireless multimodal locomotion capabilities, magnetic soft millirobots have emerged as potential minimally invasive medical robotic platforms. Due to their diverse shape programming capability, they can generate various locomotion modes, and their locomotion can be adapted to different environments by controlling the external magnetic field signal. Existing adaptation methods, however, are based on hand-tuned signals. Here, a learning-based adaptive magnetic soft millirobot multimodal locomotion framework empowered by sim-to-real transfer is presented. Developing a data-driven magnetic soft millirobot simulation environment, the periodic magnetic actuation signal is learned for a given soft millirobot in simulation. Then, the learned locomotion strategy is deployed to the real world using Bayesian optimization and Gaussian processes. Finally, automated domain recognition and locomotion adaptation for unknown environments using a Kullback-Leibler divergence-based probabilistic method are illustrated. This method can enable soft millirobot locomotion to quickly and continuously adapt to environmental changes and explore the actuation space for unanticipated solutions with minimum experimental cost.

Demand Response Power-Gas Interconnection Energy System and Power Metering Based on SOGA

Under the double background of global energy crisis and environmental pollution, China vigorously develops renewable energy while accelerating the construction of energy Internet. Taking demand response into account, this paper proposes the optimal design of power-gas interconnection energy system and power metering, and establishes the optimization research model of IEGES (integrated electricity-gas energy system) with demand response. Firstly, the structure model of the electric-gas interconnection energy system with CHP (Cogeneration, combined heat and power) as the core is constructed, and the energy conversion relationship and different energy flow directions of the coupling equipment are expounded from three aspects. The natural gas source point, pipeline equation, power side branch equation, voltage and current equation are modeled and sorted out, and the square term in the equation is linearized by second-order cone programming method, and the mixed integer nonlinear programming problem is transformed into mixed integer linear programming problem. A single objective genetic algorithm with “elite strategy” was selected to solve the equipment capacity optimization problem of IEGES system with system economy as the optimization objective. After a long time of parameter combination attempts, the current population size is 30, the number of iterations is 600, the crossover rate is 0.8, and the heritability is 0.3. The above parameters can obtain better convergence results on the basis of considering the operation time. Finally, a stochastic optimization method of energy Internet considering integrated demand response and uncertainty of wind power is proposed, which aims to meet the energy demand of end users while minimizing the operating cost of the system. The comprehensive demand response strategy including internal and external demand response is considered in the model. Internal demand response is realized by adjusting the internal operation mode of EH, while external demand response is implemented by the end user’s active response, and the load is time-shifted or interrupted under the guidance of external signals.

Fine-tuning pH sensor H98 by remote essential residues in the hydrogen-bond network of mTASK-3

TASK-3 generates a background K+ conductance which when inhibited by acidification depolarizes membrane potential and increases cell excitability. These channels sense pH by protonation of histidine residue H98, but recent evidence revealed that several other amino acid residues also contribute to TASK-3 pH sensitivity, suggesting that the pH sensitivity is determined by an intermolecular network. Here we use electrophysiology and molecular modeling to characterize the nature and requisite role(s) of multiple amino acids in pH sensing by TASK-3. Our results suggest that the pH sensor H98 and consequently pH sensitivity is influenced by remote amino acids that function as a hydrogen-bonding network to modulate ionic conductivity. Among the residues in the network, E30 and K79 are the most important for passing external signals near residue S31 to H98. The hydrogen-bond network plays a key role in selectivity or pH sensing in mTASK-3, and E30 and S31 in the network can modulate the conductive properties (E30) or reverse the pH sensitivity and selectivity of the channel (S31). Molecular dynamics simulations and pK1/2 calculation revealed that double mutants involving H98 + S31 primarily regulate the structure stability of the pore selectivity filter and pore loop regions, further strengthen the stability of the cradle suspension system, and alter the ionization state of E30 and K79, thereby preventing pore conformational change that normally occurs in response to varying extracellular pH. These results demonstrate that crucial residues in the hydrogen-bond network can remotely tune the pH sensing of mTASK-3 and may be a potential allosteric regulatory site for therapeutic molecule development.

Changing effects of external forcing on Atlantic–Pacific interactions

Abstract. Recent studies have highlighted the increasingly dominant role of external forcing in driving Atlantic and Pacific Ocean variability during the second half of the 20th century. This paper provides insights into the underlying mechanisms driving interactions between modes of variability over the two basins. We define a set of possible drivers of these interactions and apply causal discovery to reanalysis data, two ensembles of pacemaker simulations where sea surface temperatures in either the tropical Pacific or the North Atlantic are nudged to observations, and a pre-industrial control run. We also utilize large-ensemble means of historical simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) to quantify the effect of external forcing and improve the understanding of its impact. A causal analysis of the historical time series between 1950 and 2014 identifies a regime switch in the interactions between major modes of Atlantic and Pacific climate variability in both reanalysis and pacemaker simulations. A sliding window causal analysis reveals a decaying El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effect on the Atlantic as the North Atlantic fluctuates towards an anomalously warm state. The causal networks also demonstrate that external forcing contributed to strengthening the Atlantic's negative-sign effect on ENSO since the mid-1980s, where warming tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures induce a La Niña-like cooling in the equatorial Pacific during the following season through an intensification of the Pacific Walker circulation. The strengthening of this effect is not detected when the historical external forcing signal is removed in the Pacific pacemaker ensemble. The analysis of the pre-industrial control run supports the notion that the Atlantic and Pacific modes of natural climate variability exert contrasting impacts on each other even in the absence of anthropogenic forcing. The interactions are shown to be modulated by the (multi)decadal states of temperature anomalies of both basins with stronger connections when these states are “out of phase”. We show that causal discovery can detect previously documented connections and provides important potential for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving changes in regional and global climate variability.

Simple model to incorporate statistical noise based on a modified hodgkin-huxley approach for external electrical field driven neural responses

Noise activity is known to affect neural networks, enhance the system response to weak external signals, and lead to stochastic resonance phenomenon that can effectively amplify signals in nonlinear systems. In most treatments, channel noise has been modeled based on multi-state Markov descriptions or the use stochastic differential equation models. Here we probe a computationally simple approach based on a minor modification of the traditional Hodgkin-Huxley approach to embed noise in neural response. Results obtained from numerous simulations with different excitation frequencies and noise amplitudes for the action potential firing show very good agreement with output obtained from well-established models. Furthermore, results from the Mann–Whitney U Test reveal a statistically insignificant difference. The distribution of the time interval between successive potential spikes obtained from this simple approach compared very well with the results of complicated Fox and Lu type methods at much reduced computational cost. This present method could also possibly be applied to the analysis of spatial variations and/or differences in characteristics of random incident electromagnetic signals.

Two structurally different oomycete lipophilic microbe-associated molecular patterns induce distinctive plant immune responses.

Plants recognize a variety of external signals and induce appropriate mechanisms to increase their tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Precise recognition of attacking pathogens and induction of effective resistance mechanisms are critical functions for plant survival. Some molecular patterns unique to a certain group of microbes, microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), are sensed by plant cells as nonself molecules via pattern recognition receptors. While MAMPs of bacterial and fungal origin have been identified, reports on oomycete MAMPs are relatively limited. This study aimed to identify MAMPs from an oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of potato late blight. Using reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and phytoalexin production in potato (Solanum tuberosum) as markers, two structurally different groups of elicitors, namely ceramides and diacylglycerols, were identified. P. infestans ceramides (Pi-Cer A, B, and D) induced ROS production, while diacylglycerol (Pi-DAG A and B), containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as a substructure, induced phytoalexins production in potato. The molecular patterns in Pi-Cers and Pi-DAGs essential for defense induction were identified as 9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine (9Me-Spd) and 5,8,11,14-tetraene-type fatty acid (5,8,11,14-TEFA), respectively. These structures are not found in plants, but in oomycetes and fungi, indicating that they are microbe molecular patterns recognized by plants. When Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) was treated with Pi-Cer D and EPA, partially overlapping but different sets of genes were induced. Furthermore, expression of some genes is upregulated only after the simultaneous treatment with Pi-Cer D and EPA, indicating that plants combine the signals from simultaneously recognized MAMPs to adapt their defense response to pathogens.

Simulations of the Experimental Spectral Features of Megawatt-Class Gyrotron Fed With an External Signal

Simulations of the Experimental Spectral Features of Megawatt-Class Gyrotron Fed With an External Signal