Multiple Hormone Research Articles

Triple-template surface imprinted magnetic polymers for wide-coverage extraction of steroid hormones from human serum.

In this study, novel triple-template magnetic nanospheres by surface imprinting, called triple-template magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (tri-MMIPs), were prepared for the detection of steroid hormones in human serum. The polymers were constructed by Fe3O4 as support, estrone (E1), progesterone (PROG), and estradiol (E2) as triple templates, acrylic acid (AA) as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as cross-linker. The resulting tri-MMIPs were further characterized and applied as sorbents in human serum pretreatment. Coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) profiling after derivatization, 15 steroids (E1, 6-ketoE1, 4-OHE1, 16α-OHE1, DHEA, 4-MeOE1, PROG, PREG, 17-OHPROG, 7-DHE2, E2, 2-OHE2, 16-epiE3, E3, 2-MeOE2) were successfully quantified. The developed method exhibited a good recovery (78.9-114%) and low limit of quantitation (LLOQ, 5-10pg/mL), which indicates a great potential for application in the analysis of multiple steroid hormones in complex biological samples.

β2-Chimaerin, a GTPase-Activating Protein for Rac1, Is a Novel Regulator of Hepatic Insulin Signaling and Glucose Metabolism

Glucose homeostasis is a complex process regulated by multiple organs and hormones, with insulin playing a central role. Recent evidence underscores the role of small GTP-binding proteins, particularly Rac1, in regulating insulin secretion and glucose uptake. However, the role of Rac1-regulatory proteins in these processes remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the role of β2-chimaerin, a Rac1-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP), in glucose homeostasis using whole-body β2-chimaerin knockout mice. Our data revealed that β2-chimaerin deficiency results in improved glucose tolerance and enhanced insulin sensitivity in mice. These metabolic effects were associated with increased insulin-induced AKT phosphorylation in the liver and activation of downstream pathways that regulate gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis. We show that insulin activates Rac1 in the liver. However, β2-chimaerin deletion did not significantly alter Rac1 activation in this organ, suggesting that β2-chimaerin regulates insulin signaling via a Rac1-independent mechanism. These findings expand our understanding of Rac1 regulation in glucose metabolism, and identify β2-chimaerin as a novel modulator of hepatic insulin signaling, with potential implications for the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Strigolactones Regulate Secondary Metabolism and Nitrogen/Phosphate Signaling in Tea Plants via Transcriptional Reprogramming and Hormonal Interactions.

Strigolactones (SLs) are known to regulate plant architecture formation, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) responses, and secondary metabolism, but their effects in tea plants remain unclear. We demonstrated that the application of a bioactive SL analogue GR24 either to tea roots or leaves initially stimulated but later inhibited catechins, theanine, and caffeine biosynthesis. GR24 treatment also promoted the accumulation of flavonols and insoluble proanthocyanidins in a time- and dose-dependent manner. GR24 influenced flavonoid and theanine biosynthesis genes, such as up-regulating CsTT2c, CsMYB12, and CsbZIP1, modulating N-responsive and assimilation genes (CsNRT1,1, CsGSI/TS1, CsHRS1, CsPHR1, CsNLA1, and CsLBD37/38/39), and repressing N/P transport and signaling genes (CsPHO2, CsPHT1s, CsNRT2,2, CsHHO1, and CsWRKY38). GR24-induced changes in secondary metabolites were also observed in the leaves of tea plants. GR24-regulated CsLBD37a interacted with CsTT8a and CsTT2c, repressing catechins biosynthesis by interrupting MBW complex formation. GR24 regulated caffeine biosynthesis and regulator genes CsS40 and CsNAC7 and may thereby suppress caffeine production. GR24 altered the transcriptomic profiles of multiple hormone biosynthesis and signaling genes that potentially regulate tea characteristic metabolism and N/P signaling. This study provides new insights into SL-induced transcriptional reprogramming that leads to changes in N/P nutrition, secondary metabolism, and hormone signaling in tea plants.

Comparative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Possible Roles of Rice Phospholipase A Genes in the Accumulation of Oil in Grains.

The phospholipase A (PLA) gene family plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth, development and stress response. Although PLA genes have been identified in various plant species, their specific functions and characteristics in oil quality formation of rice grains (Oryza sativa L.) have not been studied yet. Here, we identified and characterized 35 rice PLA genes, which were divided into three subgroups based on gene structures and phylogenetic relationships. These genes are distributed unevenly across 11 rice chromosomes. The promoter sequence of rice PLAs contain multiple plant hormones and stress-related elements. Gene expression analyses in various tissues and under stress conditions indicated that PLAs may be involved in rice growth, development and stress response. In addition, metabolomics, transcriptomics and qRT-PCR analyses between two rice varieties Guang8B (G8B, high oil content) and YueFengB (YFB, low oil content) revealed that the different expressional levels of rice PLA genes were closely related to the differences in the oil content between 'G8B' and 'YFB' grains. The findings of this study provide potential novel insights into the molecular information of the phospholipase A gene family in rice, and underscore the potential functions of PLA genes in rice oil content accumulation, providing valuable resources for future genetic improvement and breeding strategies.

Estrogen Enhances FDFT1 Expression in Theca Cells of Chicken Hierarchical Ovarian Follicles by Increasing LSD1Ser54p Level Through GSK3β Phosphorylation at 216th Tyrosine

The development of chicken ovarian follicles involves two key stages of primordial follicle recruitment and follicle selection that are tightly regulated by multiple reproductive hormones and cytokines. Our previous study revealed an estrogen-stimulated increase in the phosphorylation level of serine at position 54 of lysine demethylase 1A (LSD1Ser54p) in the theca cells of chicken hierarchical ovarian follicles (Post-TCs). In this study, we further found that the upregulation of LSD1Ser54p by estrogen was performed by glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and that GSK3β promoted LSD1Ser54p levels by directly binding to the SWIRM and AOL1 domains of LSD1. Upon estrogen stimulation, the phosphorylation level of tyrosine at position 216 of GSK3β (GSK3βTyr216p) increased, which enhanced the binding between LSD1 and GSK3β. The subsequent transcriptome sequencing on chicken Post-TCs treated with estrogen and CUT&RUN sequencing against the LSD1Ser54p protein revealed that the expression of the farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1) gene was simultaneously upregulated by estrogen, GSK3β, and LSD1Ser54p. Moreover, the overexpression of FDFT1 further promoted cholesterol biosynthesis in chicken Post-TCs. In short, the findings of this study suggest that estrogen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation at position 216 of GSK3β can upregulate the level of LSD1Ser54p, leading to the activation of FDFT1 expression and subsequently promoting cholesterol biosynthesis in chicken Post-TCs, which may in turn enhance estrogen synthesis.

Widespread production of plant growth-promoting hormones among marine bacteria and their impacts on the growth of a marine diatom

BackgroundReciprocal exchanges of metabolites between phytoplankton and bacteria influence the fitness of these microorganisms which ultimately shapes the productivity of marine ecosystems. Recent evidence suggests that plant growth-promoting hormones may be key metabolites within mutualistic phytoplankton-bacteria partnerships, but very little is known about the diversity of plant growth-promoting hormones produced by marine bacteria and their specific effects on phytoplankton growth. Here, we aimed to investigate the capacity of marine bacteria to produce 7 plant growth-promoting hormones and the effects of these hormones on Actinocyclus sp. growth.ResultsWe examined the plant growth-promoting hormone synthesis capabilities of 14 bacterial strains that enhance the growth of the common diatom Actinocyclus. Plant growth-promoting hormone biosynthesis was ubiquitous among the bacteria tested. Indeed all 14 strains displayed the genomic potential to synthesise multiple hormones, and mass-spectrometry confirmed that each strain produced at least 6 out of the 7 tested plant growth-promoting hormones. Some of the plant growth-promoting hormones identified here, such as brassinolide and trans-zeatin, have never been reported in marine microorganisms. Importantly, all strains produced the hormone indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) in high concentrations and released it into their surroundings. Furthermore, indole-3 acetic acid extracellular concentrations were positively correlated with the ability of each strain to promote Actinocyclus growth. When inoculated with axenic Actinocyclus cultures, only indole-3 acetic acid and gibberellic acid enhanced the growth of the diatom, with cultures exposed to indole-3 acetic acid exhibiting a two-fold increase in cell numbers.ConclusionOur results reveal that marine bacteria produce a much broader range of plant growth-promoting hormones than previously suspected and that some of these compounds enhance the growth of a marine diatom. These findings suggest plant growth-promoting hormones play a large role in microbial communication and broaden our knowledge of their fuctions in the marine environment.4YJWCKdNErspcm2bUDNM6tVideo

The Different Concentrations of Applied Exogenous Sugars Widely Influence the Specificity, Significance and Physiological Relevance of Study Outcomings.

Plant growth and development are governed via signal networks that connect inputs from nutrient status, hormone signals, and environmental cues. Substantial researches have indicated a pivotal role of sugars as signalling molecules in plants that integrate external environmental cues and other nutrients with intrinsic developmental programmes regulated via multiple plant hormones. Therefore, plant growth and development are controlled through complication signalling networks. However, in many studies, to obtain more obviously experimental findings, excess concentrations of applied exogenous sugars have aggravated the complexity of this signalling networks. Once researchers underestimate this complexity, a series of contradictory or contrasting findings will be generated. More importantly, in terms of these contradictory findings, more contradictory study outcomings are derived. In this review, we carefully analyze some reports, and find that these reports have confused or neglected that the sugar-antagonism of ethylene signalling is specific or conditional. As a result, many contradictory conclusions are generated, which will in turn misdirect the scientific community.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ALKB Homolog Gene Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant and pervasive post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. AlkB homolog (ALKBH) proteins play crucial roles in RNA metabolism and translation, participating in m6A methylation modification to regulate plant development. However, no comprehensive investigations have been conducted on ALKBH in potato. Here, 11 StALKBH family genes were identified in potato and renamed according to BLASTP and phylogenetic analyses following the Arabidopsis genome. The characteristics, sequence structures, motif compositions, phylogenetics, chromosomal locations, synteny, and promoter cis-acting element predictions were analyzed, revealing distinct evolutionary relationships between potato and other species (tomato and Arabidopsis). Homologous proteins were classified into seven groups depending on similar conserved domains, which implies that they possess a potentially comparable function. Moreover, the StALKBHs were ubiquitous, and their expression was examined in the various tissues of a whole potato, in which the StALKBH genes, except for StALKBH2, were most highly expressed in the stolon and flower. Multiple hormone and stress-response elements were found to be located in the promoters of the StALKBH genes. Further qRT-PCR results suggest that they may be significantly upregulated in response to phytohormones and abiotic stress (except for cold), and the expression of most of the StALKBH genes exhibited positively modulated trends. Overall, this study is the first to report a genome-wide assessment of the ALKBH family in potato, providing valuable insights into candidate gene selection and facilitating in-depth functional analyses of ALKBH-mediated m6A methylation mechanisms in potato.

Selective quantification of estrogens in serum with aptamer-affinity and LC-MS/MS analysis

In the previous study, we developed an accurate and automated immunologic mass spectrometry (iMS) method for the simultaneous quantification of multiple steroid hormones by target capturing with monoclonal antibodies and LC-MS/MS analysis. However, antibodies are less accessible to a wide variety of low-molecular-weight analytes, which limited the application of iMS method. At the same time, multiple monoclonal antibodies needed also increased the complexity and cost of the iMS assay. In the present study, we developed an aptamer-affinity and LC-MS/MS analysis method with a class-specific aptamer for the selective enrichment and simultaneous determination of estrogens (estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2)) in human serum. The DNA aptamer was coupled to magnetic beads to enrich the target estrogens from serum sample after protein precipitation. The magnetic beads were then washed and eluted with acetonitrile solution, and targets were analyzed with LC-MS/MS. The sample preparation process of enrichment, washing and elution works in an automatic manner. Matrix effect was negligible as the high specificity of target recognition and enrichment by the aptamer. The aptamer-affinity assay for estrogen quantification was validated for sensitivity, linearity, accuracy and precision. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were0.01 ng/mLand0.02 ng/mL for E1 and E2, respectively. Satisfactory coefficients of variation (CVs) were obtained, with the intra-batch CVs of5.5 %-7.3 % and 5.2 %-6.0 % for E1 and E2, respectively, and inter-batch CVs of 3.8 %-10.0 % and 5.2 %-6.3 % for E1 and E2, respectively. Recoveries were in the range of99.1 %-107.0 % and 94.9 %-107.7 % for E1 and E2, respectively. Quantification results of 40 serum samples by the aptamer-affinity and solid-phase extraction (SPE) LC-MS/MS method showed good consistency, with the correlation coefficient of 0.93 and 0.98 for E1 and E2, respectively. Clinical application of the aptamer-affinity and LC-MS/MS method was further demonstrated for quantifying serum estrogen levels of 170 pregnant women at different gestational weeks.

Identification of SikCDPK family genes to low-temperature by RNA-seq approaches and functional analysis of SikCDPK1 in Saussurea involucrata (Kar. & Kir.).

Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs) are a class of serine/threonine protein kinases encoded by several gene families that play key roles in biotic and abiotic stresses response and plant growth and development. However, snow lotus (Saussurea involucrata kar L.) CDPKs has rarely been reported. In this study, 20 CDPK genes in snow lotus were identified based on transcriptome data and classified into four groups (I-IV) based on their structural features and phylogenetic analyses. Among them, the transcript levels of SikCDPK1 were significantly induced by low temperature and multiple hormone treatments, and SikCDPK1 gene was found to have different expression in snow lotus seeds, leaves, stems and roots. The full-length promoter activity of SikCDPK1 gene was higher than that of the 5' end deletion fragment, and the promoter fragment containing the low temperature inducing element had increased activation after low temperature treatment. The promoter activity of SikCDPK1 gene was mainly expressed in roots and rosette leaves. In addition, overexpressing plants of SikCDPK1 were more tolerant compared to the wild type after being subjected to low temperature stress. Physiological analyses indicated that SikCDPK1 improved plant tolerance to low temperature stress by maintaining cell membrane stability and reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings provided insights into CDPK gene families in snow lotus and broaden our understanding of the biological role of SikCDPK1 and the mechanism of low temperature stress tolerance in snow lotus.

The Role of Stress in Obesity and Relevant Interventions

The prevalence of obesity is on the rise, which significantly increases the burden on global healthcare expenditures and profoundly impacting both physical and mental health. It has become a major public health challenge that urgently needs to be addressed in todays society. Obesity is influenced by multiple factors, including stress, genetics, hormones, and neuroendocrine elements, with lifestyle and epigenetic changes also playing significant roles. Stress impacts various physiological systems, including the brain, memory, cognition, immune response, cardiovascular health, and endocrine function. It can also trigger obesity by affecting appetite regulation, reward sensitivity, and hormonal balance. Understanding the relationship between stress and obesity is crucial for developing effective interventions. Recent research highlights that stress significantly affects eating behaviors, leading to weight gain, while obesity can exacerbate stress and disrupt life balance. Effective interventions include mindfulness training, which improves self-awareness, positive emotions, and psychological flexibility, and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. Stress management programs and physical activity are also beneficial for weight loss and overall health. However, the limitations of small sample sizes, short intervention periods, limited participant diversity, and reliance on self-reported measures may undermine the generalizability and accuracy of the findings of previous research. Future research should focus on larger, diverse samples, long-term studies, and incorporate both objective measures of stress and self-reported data to better understand and manage obesity and stress.

Unveiling the psychiatric dimensions of hypopituitarism: investigating associations, challenges, and treatment strategies.

Dear Editor, Hypopituitarism is a disorder characterized by insufficient hormone production from the pituitary gland,1,2 manifesting as either pan or partial dysfunction.2 Hypopituitarism is considered a rare disorder by National Institute of Health and there is limited information on its occurrence. A study in Spain demonstrated prevalence of 45.5 cases per 100,000 people.2 Hypopituitarism can be caused by pituitary tumours, head injury, infections, radiation therapy, autoimmune conditions, and genetic abnormalities.2 Hypopituitarism occurs when about 75% of the pituitary gland is affected, causing a spectrum of clinical features from mild to severe.2 Sheehan syndrome, resulting from anterior pituitary ischaemia typically after postpartum haemorrhage, occurs in approximately 5/10,000 births in developing countries.3 Hypopituitarism diagnosis may take a decade or longer due to its diverse clinical presentations.3 As of now, the link between psychotic disorders and hypopituitarism is not completely understood.1 While a few case reports have documented a link between pituitary insufficiency and mental health issues, larger-scale studies are limited in number. Hypopituitarism raises depression and anxiety risk, especially in females and those over 18, with females having tenfold higher risk of depression than males.1 Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is linked to cognitive impairments, and atypical depression.4 In their 1949 report, Sheehan and Summer noted that one-third of total 143 hypopituitarism patients displayed loss of drive and initiative, and disinterest in social connections.5 Acute psychosis as an initial presentation of hypopituitarism has been reported in cases involving Sheehan's syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and glucocorticoid therapy.5 A 37-year-old pregnant woman diagnosed with Sheehan syndrome exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms, prompting early diagnosis.3 The 2010 study found that growth hormone therapy improved cognitive function and reduced depression severity in traumatic brain injury patients with GHD. However, discontinuation of therapy led to worsened cognitive function and increased psychiatric symptoms, highlighting the potential benefits of growth hormone therapy and the need for more experimental studies to confirm its effects on neurophysiological and psychiatric wellbeing.4 Adults with Childhood Onset Multiple Pituitary Hormone Deficiency have a notably lower quality of life, underscoring the importance of addressing psychosocial and psychosexual challenges in this population.6 A 60-year-old man with macroprolactinoma and hypopituitarism developed acute psychosis due to non-adherence to cabergoline, treatment with hydrocortisone, and thyroxine lead to full recovery within 48 hours.5 A 41-year-old man with osmophobia improved with sertraline transiently. Later, he was diagnosed with partial hypopituitarism with adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency. Prednisolone supplementation significantly improved his condition.7 ---Continue

Diagnostic testing using gene panels for severe childhood growth failure and multiple pituitary hormone deficiency in England

Diagnostic testing using gene panels for severe childhood growth failure and multiple pituitary hormone deficiency in England

Comparative Genomics Analysis of the Populus Epidermal Pattern Factor (EPF) Family Revealed Their Regulatory Effects in Populus euphratica Stomatal Development.

Drought stress seriously threatens plant growth. The improvement of plant water use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance through stomatal regulation is an effective strategy for coping with water shortages. Epidermal patterning factor (EPF)/EPF-like (EPFL) family proteins regulate stomatal formation and development in plants and thus contribute to plant stress adaptation. Here, our analysis revealed the presence of 14 PeEPF members in the Populus euphratica genome, which exhibited a relatively conserved gene structure with 1-3 introns. Subcellular localisation prediction revealed that 9 PeEPF members were distributed in the chloroplasts of P. euphratica, and 5 were located extracellularly. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeEPFs can be divided into three clades, with genes within the same clade revealing a relatively conserved structure. Furthermore, we observed the evolutionary conservation of PeEPFs and AtEPF/EPFLs in certain domains, which suggests their conserved function. The analysis of cis-acting elements suggested the possible involvement of PeEPFs in plant response to multiple hormones. Transcriptomic analysis revealed considerable changes in the expression level of PeEPFs during treatment with polyethylene glycol and abscisic acid. The overexpression of PeEPF2 resulted in low stomatal density in transgenetic lines. These findings provide a basis for gaining insights into the function of PeEPFs in response to abiotic stress.

Insulin-Induced Copeptin Response in Children and Adolescents to Diagnose Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency

Introduction: The diagnosis of arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVD, formerly central diabetes insipidus) remains a challenge. In recent years, stimulated copeptin has emerged as a promising tool to diagnose AVD. Methods: In this single centre retrospective study, we identified paediatric patients with suspected pituitary insufficiency who underwent standard insulin tolerance testing (ITT) previously. Patients with AVD and non-matched controls without polyuria-polydipsia syndrome were identified. Diagnosis of AVD was confirmed retrospectively using comprehensive clinical and diagnostic characteristics. Serum copeptin concentrations were measured using a commercially available automated immunofluorescence assay (B.R.A.H.M.S Copeptin-proAVP KRYPTOR®) in −20°C stored samples collected before and 30, 45, and 60 min after insulin injection. Cut-off analyses were performed using ROC curves. Results: Twenty-five patients with AVD and 43 non-matched controls were available for analysis. Median basal copeptin concentrations of 1.51 pmol/L (IQR: 0.91–1.95; serum osmolarity: 288.5 mmol/L, IQR: 282.3–293.5) increased at a median of 30 min to a maximum of 1.95 pmol/L (IQR: 1.31–2.39) in AVD patients (p = 0.113) and from 4.41 pmol/L (IQR: 3.36–6.68; serum osmolarity: 281.0 mmol/L, IQR: 274.0–286.0, p < 0.001) to a maximum of 8.39 pmol/L (IQR: 4.95–19.72, p < 0.001) in controls. ROC analysis resulted in a cut-off of 3.0 pmol/L for maximum copeptin (91.7% sensitivity, 94.1% specificity) for the diagnosis of AVD. Conclusion: Our results suggest that insulin-stimulated serum copeptin concentrations are a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for AVD in paediatric patients, which allows us to test multiple pituitary hormone axes simultaneously in a single test.

204 Changes in DNA methylation 5 days after exposure to acute heat stress in beef cattle skeletal muscle

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of acute heat stress on the skeletal muscle epigenome using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). March-born crossbred (5/8 Red Angus, 3/8 Simmental) steers (n = 14; average body weight = 308.7 kg) were exposed to heat stress (HS) conditions of 35°C + 35% relative humidity (Temperature Humidity Index = 81) for 12h/d for 2 d (48 h). Longissimus dorsi samples were collected via biopsy and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately following the HS period at 48 h and from the contralateral longissimus dorsi 5 d later. DNA was isolated and underwent RRBS using 150 bp paired-end reads at an achieved average depth of 15.3 million reads/sample. Reads were trimmed and mapped to a bisulfite-converted bovine genome (ARSUCD1.2). Methylation calls were extracted and used to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with methylkit in R comparing samples collected 5 d post-HS to those taken immediately post-48 h of HS. Differentially methylated regions (1,000 bp) had q &amp;lt; 0.05 and at least a 15% difference in methylation. There were 1,015 DMRs in genes. Hypomethylated DMRs 5 d post-HS included IGF1R, IGF2, IGF2BP1, IGFBP4, IGF2R, IKBKB, and IL34. Hypermethylated DMRs 5 d post-HS included FGF5, FGFR1, and FGFR3. There were 81 DMRs in putative promoter regions (2000 bp 5’ of a gene). MYLK2, SIGIRR, and 25 other genes had hypomethylated promoter regions. Genes that contained DMRs were used as input for DAVID to explore KEGG pathways. Enriched pathways (P &amp;lt; 0.1) included multiple hormone pathways, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and VEGF. Hypomethylation of IGF-related genes and hypermethylation of FGF-related genes suggests impaired growth capacity post-HS, as does the enrichment of MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways. Hypomethylation of SIGIRR’s promoter region, IL34 and IKBKB, indicates enhanced anti-inflammatory activity given their known regulation of inflammatory cytokine production. This, coupled with enrichment of the HIF-1 and VEGF pathways, suggests regulatory dampening of HS-induced oxidative stress. These findings reveal key regulatory changes in muscle growth, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress activity for cattle recovering from acute HS. Previous cattle skeletal muscle RNA studies predicted that HS altered metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress pathways, similar to the methylation results of this study. Overall, evidence suggests growth dysregulation, which may help explain observed HS-induced poor growth due to HS, as well as subsequent anti-inflammatory activity during recovery from HS.

Imaging the spatial distribution of structurally diverse plant hormones: A comprehensive review.

Plant hormones are essential and structurally diverse molecules that regulate various aspects of plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, the precise analysis of plant hormones in complex biological samples poses a challenge due to their low concentrations, dynamic levels, and intricate spatial distribution. Moreover, the complexity and interconnectedness of hormone signaling networks make it difficult to simultaneously trace multiple hormone distributions. In this review, we provide an overview of the currently recognized small-molecule plant hormones, signal peptide hormones, and plant growth regulators, along with the analytical methods employed for their analysis. We delve into the latest advancements in mass spectrometry imaging and in situ fluorescence techniques, which enable the examination of the spatial distribution of plant hormones. The advantages and disadvantages of these imaging techniques are further discussed. Finally, we propose potential avenues for future research in this field to further enhance our understanding of plant hormone biology.

Efficacy and safety of cangfu daotan decoction as an adjuvant treatment of Diane-35 for polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveCangfu Daotan decoction is a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been found to be beneficial for treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in animal models. This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Cangfu Daotan decoction as an adjuvant treatment to Diane-35 for PCOS in humans. MethodsSeven electronic databases were searched up to June 22, 2024, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated Cangfu Daotan decoction combined with Diane-35 versus Diane-35 alone for the treatment of PCOS. The effects of individual RCTs were combined via meta-analysis and were measured as relative risks (RRs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs). ResultsTwenty-five RCTs with a moderate to high risk of bias were included, involving 1845 patients with PCOS. Meta-analyses indicated that compared with Diane-35 alone, the combination of Diane-35 and Cangfu Daotan decoction significantly improved the response rate (RR 1.19, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.14 to 1.24), pregnancy rate (RR 1.57, 95 % CI 1.18 to 2.09), ovulation rate (RR 1.22, 95 % CI 1.11 to 1.35), and ovarian volume (WMD -1.43 cm3, 95 % CI -2.46 to −0.39). Cangfu Daotan decoction also significantly reduced the luteinizing hormone (LH) level, LH:FSH ratio, testosterone level, prolactin level, body mass index (BMI) and hirsutism and acne scores but had no significant effect on the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level. All adverse events were mild and not related to Cangfu Daotan decoction treatment. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that Cangfu Daotan decoction, as an adjuvant therapy to Diane-35 for the treatment of PCOS, can reduce multiple sex hormone levels and BMI, relieve hyperandrogenism signs, and ultimately improve pregnancy outcomes, with good safety. The effect of Cangfu Daotan decoction on FSH remains uncertain. Due to limitations of risk of bias and heterogeneity, the quality of evidence was rated as moderate to very low.

Differential regulation of xylem and phloem differentiation in grape berries by GA3 and CPPU

Fruit vascular bundles play a critical role in transporting water and nutrients within fruit, ultimately impacting fruit size and quality. Gibberellic acid (GA) and the synthetic cytokinin forchlorfenuron (CPPU) are commonly used to enhance grape berry size. Understanding their effects on the structure and function of berry vascular bundles could provide new information on the regulatory mechanism of these hormones on grapevine expansion and quality. In this study, the fruitlets of ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Einset Seedless’ grape varieties were treated by GA3, CPPU, and a combination of both at two weeks after full bloom. The samples were collected at 20, 40 and 70 days post-treatment. The results showed that all treatments led to an increase in berry size, xylem area, phloem area, the relative abundance of large-diameter grade vessels (>6 μm), the corresponding xylem area-specific hydraulic conductivity, and water absorption in both grape varieties. Specifically, CPPU favored an increase in phloem area, while GA3 primarily increased the xylem area. The combined application had a strong effect on both xylem and phloem area. RNA-seq analysis revealed that all treatments induced variations in the expression levels of multiple hormone signal components and genes related to vascular development. GA3 treatment mainly influenced some specific transcription factors involved in xylem differentiation, while CPPU and the combination treatment induced a wide range of genes related to vascular cambium initiation, proliferation, and differentiation of phloem and xylem vessels. Overall, our findings suggest that GA3 played a significant role in xylem differentiation, whereas CPPU had a major impact on both phloem and xylem differentiation in grape berries. These results lay the groundwork for further research the precise regulation of fruit vascular development under GA3 and CPPU treatments.

Molecular characterization of cassava zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) transcription factors reveals their role in disease resistance

The production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is constantly threatened by cassava bacterial blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (Xpm). Zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) belongs to a family of homozygous heterotypic cassette genes widely implicated in various developmental and physiological processes in plants. Despite their importance, a comprehensive analysis of ZF-HD genes, particularly those involved in disease resistance, has not been performed for cassava. In the present study, we utilized bioinformatics methods to identify 21 ZF-HD genes distributed across 11 chromosomes of cassava genome, with the majority exhibiting gene structure without introns. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genes into two major groups (MIF and ZHD) with five subgroups. We observed fourteen pairs of duplicated genes, suggesting that segmental duplication has likely facilitated the expansion of the cassava ZF-HD gene family. Comparative orthologous analyses between cassava and other plant species shed light on the evolutionary trajectory of this gene family. Promoter analyses revealed multiple hormone- and stress-related elements, indicative of a functional role in stress responses. Expression profiling through RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) demonstrated that certain cassava ZF-HD genes are up-regulated in response to Xpm infection, suggesting their involvement in defense mechanisms. Notably, MeZHD7 gene was identified via virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) as potentially crucial in conferring resistance against CBB. Results from subcellular localization experiments indicated that MeZHD7 was localized in the nucleus. The Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated an interaction between MeZHD7 and MeMIF5. These findings may lay the foundation for further cloning and functional analyses of cassava ZF-HD genes, particularly those associated with pathogen resistance.