Expression Of Stress-related Genes Research Articles

OsRHS Negatively Regulates Rice Heat Tolerance at the Flowering Stage by Interacting With the HSP Protein cHSP70-4.

Heat stress at the flowering stage significantly impacts rice grain yield, yet the number of identified genes associated with rice heat tolerance at this crucial stage remains limited. This study focuses on elucidating the function of the heat-induced gene reduced heat stress tolerance 1 (OsRHS). Overexpression of OsRHS leads to reduced heat tolerance, while RNAi silencing or knockout of OsRHS enhances heat tolerance without compromising yield, as assessed by the seed setting rate. OsRHS is localized in the cytoplasm and mainly expressed in the glume and anther of spikelet. Moreover, OsRHS was found to interact with the HSP protein cHSP70-4, and the knockout of cHSP70-4 resulted in increased heat tolerance. Complementation assays revealed that the knockout of cHSP70-4 could restore the compromised heat tolerance in OsRHS overexpression plants. Additional investigation reveals that elevated temperatures can amplify the bond between OsRHS and cHSP70-4 within rice. Furthermore, our findings indicate that under heat stress conditions during the flowering stage, OsRHS plays a negative regulatory role in the expression of many stress-related genes. These findings unveil the crucial involvement of OsRHS and cHSP70-4 in modulating heat tolerance in rice and identify novel target genes for enhancing heat resilience during the flowering phase in rice.

Polygala fallax Hemsl polysaccharides alleviated alcoholic fatty liver disease by modifying lipid metabolism via AMPK

Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in the liver. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Polygala fallax Hemsl polysaccharides (PFPs) on AFLD. PFPs were purified and structurally characterized. An AFLD model was established in mice using alcohol and a high-fat diet. A significant reduction in hepatic steatosis was observed following PFPs treatment, evidenced by decreased fat deposition in liver tissues. Additionally, PFPs reduced various liver injury markers, increased levels of antioxidant enzymes, and improved significantly liver function. RNA sequencing revealed that PFPs improved lipid and CYP450 metabolic pathway abnormalities in AFLD mice. Furthermore, PFPs activated the AMPK pathway, reducing lipid accumulation and enhancing lipid metabolism. A HepG2 cell model treated with ethanol and oleic acid showed significant biochemical improvements with PFPs pretreatment, including reduced lipid accumulation and lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. To further elucidate the AMPK and PFPs correlation in AFLD, an AMPK inhibitor (compound C) was used. In vitro and in vivo qRT-PCR and Western blot results confirmed that PFPs protected against AFLD by activating AMPK phosphorylation, regulating lipid synthesis, and inhibiting lipid accumulation. PFPs also modulated CYP2E1 and oxidative stress-related gene expression, affecting liver metabolism.

Silencing of GhSINAT5 Reduces Drought Resistance and Salt Tolerance in Cotton.

The SEVEN IN ABSENTIA (SINA) E3 ubiquitin ligase is widely involved in drought and salt stress in plants. However, the biological function of the SINA proteins in cotton is still unknown. This study aimed to reveal the function of GhSINAT5 through biochemical, genetic and molecular approaches. GhSINAT5 is expressed in several tissues of cotton plants, including roots, stems, leaves and cotyledons, and its expression levels are significantly affected by polyethylene glycol, abscisic acid and sodium chloride. When GhSINAT5 was silenced in cotton plants, drought and salinity stress occurred, and the length, area and volume of the roots significantly decreased. Under drought stress, the levels of proline, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase in the GhSINAT5-silenced cotton plants were significantly lower than those in the non-silenced control plants, whereas the levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde were greater. Moreover, the expression of stress-related genes in silenced plants under drought stress suggested that GhSINAT5 may play a positive role in the plant response to drought and salt stress by regulating these stress response-related genes. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of drought resistance in cotton but also provide potential targets for future improvements in crop stress resistance through genetic engineering.

Plantago asiatica seed as a protective agent for mitigating metals toxicity on Penaeusvannamei

Plantago asiatica seeds (PS) are commonly used as a medicinal plant. This study investigates the efficacy of PS against heavy metal toxicity in white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). After feeding PS diet (5 g/kg) or basal diet (control group) for 7 days, shrimps were exposed to sublethal concentrations of heavy metals in seawater (As: 12 mg/L, Pb: 250 mg/L, Hg: 0.4 mg/L). The 7-day survival observation showed that the survival in groups fed with PS were significantly higher than that in the control group, revealing that dietary PS had the efficacy to mitigate heavy metal toxicity in white shrimp. Under the same feeding condition, white shrimps were exposed to safety dose of heavy metals (1/10 of sublethal concentrations) to understand the mechanism of mitigation. The metal accumulations in haemolymph, gills, hepatopancreas, and muscle tissues as well as the immune, anti-oxidative, stress related gene expressions in haemocytes, gills and hepatopancreas were measured for 14 days. The As accumulation in gills and hepatopancreas of groups fed with PS were significantly lower than those of control group on day 7 and 14, respectively; The Pb concentration in haemolymph of group fed with PS was significantly lower than that of control group on day 7 and 14; The Hg concentration in hepatopancreas of the group fed with PS was significantly lower than that of control group on day 7. Dietary PS could mitigate heavy metal-induced immune suppression, oxidative stress, and stress response by positively regulating immune (proPO I, Toll, IMD), antioxidant (SOD, GST, Trx), and negatively regulating stress response genes (HSP70, MT). The present study demonstrated that dietary PS could protect white shrimp against metal toxicity by reducing metal accumulations and regulating the immune, antioxidant, and stress response gene expressions in specific tissue. Therefore, PS may serve as a beneficial feed additive in the aquaculture.

Expression of Foxtail Millet bZIP Transcription Factor SibZIP67 Enhances Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Foxtail millet is a drought-tolerant cereal and forage crop. The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) gene family plays important roles in regulating plant development and responding to stresses. However, the roles of bZIP genes in foxtail millet remain largely uninvestigated. In this study, 92 members of the bZIP transcription factors were identified in foxtail millet and clustered into ten clades. The expression levels of four SibZIP genes (SibZIP11, SibZIP12, SibZIP41, and SibZIP67) were significantly induced after PEG treatment, and SibZIP67 was chosen for further analysis. The studies showed that ectopic overexpression of SibZIP67 in Arabidopsis enhanced the plant drought tolerance. Detached leaves of SibZIP67 overexpressing plants had lower leaf water loss rates than those of wild-type plants. SibZIP67 overexpressing plants improved survival rates under drought conditions compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, overexpressing SibZIP67 in plants displayed reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) under drought stress. Furthermore, the drought-related genes, such as AtRD29A, AtRD22, AtNCED3, AtABF3, AtABI1, and AtABI5, were found to be regulated in SibZIP67 transgenic plants than in wild-type Arabidopsis under drought conditions. These data suggested that SibZIP67 conferred drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by regulating antioxidant enzyme activities and the expression of stress-related genes. The study reveals that SibZIP67 plays a beneficial role in drought response in plants, offering a valuable genetic resource for agricultural improvement in arid environments.

Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis to elucidate the effect of gossypol on Enterobacter sp. GD5.

Gossypol, a yellow polyphenolic compound found in the Gossypium genus, is toxic to animals that ingest cotton-derived feed materials. However, ruminants display a notable tolerance to gossypol, attributed to the pivotal role of ruminal microorganisms in its degradation. The mechanisms of how rumen microorganisms degrade and tolerate gossypol remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, Enterobacter sp. GD5 was isolated from rumen fluid, and the effects of gossypol on its metabolism and gene expression were investigated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and RNA analyses. The LC-MS results revealed that gossypol significantly altered the metabolic profiles of 15 metabolites (eight upregulated and seven downregulated). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis results showed that significantly different metabolites were associated with glutathione metabolism in both positive and negative ion modes, where gossypol significantly affected the biosynthesis of amino acids in the negative ion mode. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that gossypol significantly affected 132 genes (104 upregulated and 28 downregulated), with significant changes observed in the expression of catalase peroxidase, glutaredoxin-1, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin 2, thioredoxin reductase, and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit F, which are related to antioxidative stress. Furthermore, Gene Ontology analysis revealed significant changes in homeostatic processes following gossypol supplementation. Overall, these results indicate that gossypol induces oxidative stress, resulting in the increased expression of antioxidative stress-related genes in Enterobacter sp. GD5, which may partially explain its tolerance to gossypol.

Comparative Analysis of Hulless Barley Transcriptomes to Regulatory Effects of Phosphorous Deficiency.

Hulless barley is a cold-resistant crop widely planted in the northwest plateau of China. It is also the main food crop in this region. Phosphorus (P), as one of the important essential nutrient elements, regulates plant growth and defense. This study aimed to analyze the development and related molecular mechanisms of hulless barley under P deficiency and explore the regulatory genes so as to provide a basis for subsequent molecular breeding research. Transcriptome analysis was performed on the root and leaf samples of hulless barley cultured with different concentrations of KH2PO4 (1 mM and 10 μM) Hoagland solution. A total of 46,439 genes were finally obtained by the combined analysis of leaf and root samples. Among them, 325 and 453 genes had more than twofold differences in expression. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly participated in the abiotic stress biosynthetic process through Gene Ontology prediction. Moreover, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes showed that DEGs were mainly involved in photosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, glycolysis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and synthesis of metabolites. These pathways also appeared in other abiotic stresses. Plants initiated multiple hormone synergistic regulatory mechanisms to maintain growth under P-deficient conditions. Transcription factors (TFs) also proved these predictions. The enrichment of ARR-B TFs, which positively regulated the phosphorelay-mediated cytokinin signal transduction, and some other TFs (AP2, GRAS, and ARF) was related to plant hormone regulation. Some DEGs showed different values in their FPKM (fragment per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads), but the expression trends of genes responding to stress and phosphorylation remained highly consistent. Therefore, in the case of P deficiency, the first response of plants was the expression of stress-related genes. The effects of this stress on plant metabolites need to be further studied to improve the relevant regulatory mechanisms so as to further understand the importance of P in the development and stress resistance of hulless barley.

Dietary Pediastrum boryanum microalgal extract improves growth, enhances immunity, and regulates immune-related genes in Nile tilapia

BackgroundIdentifying alternative sustainable feed sources with high nutritional values is crucial for the future of environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. In this regard, microalgae have been proven to have positive effects on fish health, which overwhelmed our interest in this study.MethodsPediastrum boryanum (P. boryanum) was incorporated into Nile tilapia feed at concentrations of 0, 0.75, and 1.5 mg/kg, as control, PbExt0.75, and PbExt1.5 groups to assess its effects on growth and biochemical indices, oxidant/antioxidant activities, immune and stress-related gene expression, and intestinal morphology.ResultsAfter 8 weeks, fish fed P. boryanum supplemented feed exhibited significant increases in final weight, length, condition factor, body weight gain, and specific growth rate, while the spleen-somatic index (SSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) showed no significant differences compared to the control group. Dietary P. boryanum supplementation also enhanced IgM levels and lysozyme activity, along with no marked effect on markers of liver function enzymes (alanine aminotransferase/ALT and aspartate aminotransferase/AST) or protein status (total protein and albumin). Furthermore, P. boryanum addition increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH) enzymes, highlighting its antioxidant potential, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations showed no significant differences among the groups. Gene expression analysis revealed that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression notably increased in groups fed P. boryanum containing feed, while no significant difference was observed in hepatic Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA expression. Histopathological examination revealed no adverse effects of P. boryanum supplementation on the liver, spleen, or intestinal tissues. Villous height and villous surface area were notably increased in the high P. boryanum supplementation group, suggesting improved intestinal integrity and nutrient absorption.ConclusionDietary P. boryanum supplementation can potentially improve growth performance, immune response, antioxidant status, and intestinal health of Nile tilapia, making it a promising candidate for sustainable aquaculture.

The Beneficial Effect of Brazilian Propolis for Liver Damage through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

There is evidence that propolis exhibits anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. We assessed the potential beneficial effects of Brazilian propolis on liver injury in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our findings demonstrate that Brazilian propolis suppresses inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of mice with NAFLD by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Additionally, Brazilian propolis also suppressed the expression of ER stress-related genes in HepG2 cells treated with an excess of free fatty acids, leading to cell apoptosis. A deeper analysis revealed that kaempferol, one of the components present in Brazilian propolis, induces cell proliferation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and protects against oxidative stress. In conclusion, Brazilian propolis exhibits hepatoprotective properties against oxidative stress by inhibiting ER stress in NAFLD-induced model mice.

MbWRKY53, a M. baccata WRKY Transcription Factor, Contributes to Cold and Drought Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.

Apple is an important horticultural crop, but various adverse environmental factors can threaten the quality and yield of its fruits. The ability of apples to resist stress mainly depends on the rootstock. Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. is a commonly used rootstock in Northeast China. In this study, it was used as the experimental material, and the target gene MbWRKY53 was screened through transcriptome analysis and Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) after cold and drought treatment. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that this transcription factor (TF) belonged to the WRKY TF family, and its encoded protein was localized in the nucleus. RT-qPCR showed that the gene was more easily expressed in roots and young leaves and is more responsive to cold and drought stimuli. Functional validation in Arabidopsis thaliana confirmed that MbWRKY53 can enhance plant tolerance to cold and drought stress. Furthermore, by analyzing the expression levels of genes related to cold and drought stress in transgenic Arabidopsis lines, it was inferred that this gene can regulate the expression of stress-related genes through multiple pathways such as the CBF pathway, SOS pathway, Pro synthesis pathway, and ABA-dependent pathways, enhancing the adaptability of transgenic Arabidopsis to cold and drought environments.

OsG6PGH1 affects various grain quality traits and participates in the salt stress response of rice.

Cytoplasmic 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (G6PGH) is a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway that is involved in regulating various biological processes such as material metabolism, and growth and development in plants. However, it was unclear if OsG6PGH1 affected rice grain quality traits. We perform yeast one-hybrid experiments and reveal that OsG6PGH1 may interact with OsAAP6. Subsequently, yeast in vivo point-to-point experiments and local surface plasmon resonance experiments verified that OsG6PGH1 can bind to OsAAP6. OsG6PGH1 in rice is a constitutive expressed gene that may be localized in the cytoplasm. OsAAP6 and protein-synthesis metabolism-related genes are significantly upregulated in OsG6PGH1 overexpressing transgenic positive endosperm, corresponding to a significant increase in the number of protein bodies II, promoting accumulation of related storage proteins, a significant increase in grain protein content (GPC), and improved rice nutritional quality. OsG6PGH1 positively regulates amylose content, negatively regulates chalkiness rate and taste value, significantly affects grain quality traits such as appearance, cooking, and eating qualities of rice, and is involved in regulating the expression of salt stress related genes, thereby enhancing the salt-stress tolerance of rice. Therefore, OsG6PGH1 represents an important genetic resource to assist in the design of high-quality and multi-resistant rice varieties.

Water Versus Electrolyte Rehydration on Vocal Fold Osmotic and Oxidative Stress Gene Expression.

Systemic dehydration may induce osmotic and oxidative stress in the vocal folds, but our knowledge of the biology and mitigation with rehydration is limited. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether systemic dehydration induces vocal fold oxidative and osmotic stress and to compare the impact of rehydration by water intake versus electrolyte intake on osmotic and oxidative stress-related gene expression. Four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 32) underwent water restriction. Rehydration was achieved with ad libitum access to water or electrolytes for 24 hours. Rats were divided into four groups: euhydration control, dehydration-only, dehydration followed by either water or electrolyte rehydration (n = 8/group). Gene expression was assessed via RT2 Gene Expression Profiler arrays. With respect to oxidative stress, 10 genes were upregulated and 2 were downregulated after vocal fold dehydration compared with the euhydrated control. Concerning osmotic stress, six genes were upregulated with dehydration only, six genes were upregulated following rehydration with water, whereas a single gene was upregulated with electrolyte rehydration. All genes with significantly different expression between the rehydration groups showed lower expression with electrolytes compared with water. The results support a potential role of oxidative and osmotic stresses in vocal folds related to systemic dehydration. The differences in stress-related gene expression in vocal fold tissue between rehydration with electrolytes or water, albeit modest, suggest that both rehydration options offer clinical utility to subjects experiencing vocal fold dehydration with preliminary evidence that electrolytes may be more effective than water in resolving osmotic stress. NA (prospective animal study) Laryngoscope, 2024.

Chrysin-loaded PEGylated liposomes protect against alloxan-induced diabetic neuropathy in rats: the interplay between endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy

BackgroundDiabetic neuropathy (DN) is recognized as a significant complication arising from diabetes mellitus (DM). Pathogenesis of DN is accelerated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which inhibits autophagy and contributes to disease progression. Autophagy is a highly conserved mechanism crucial in mitigating cell death induced by ER stress. Chrysin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, can be found abundantly in honey, propolis, and various plant extracts. Despite possessing advantageous attributes such as being an antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anticancer agent, chrysin exhibits limited bioavailability. The current study aimed to produce a more bioavailable form of chrysin and discover how administering chrysin could alter the neuropathy induced by Alloxan in male rats.MethodsChrysin was formulated using PEGylated liposomes to boost its bioavailability and formulation. Chrysin PEGylated liposomes (Chr-PLs) were characterized for particle size diameter, zeta potential, polydispersity index, transmission electron microscopy, and in vitro drug release. Rats were divided into four groups: control, Alloxan, metformin, and Chr-PLs. In order to determine Chr- PLs’ antidiabetic activity and, by extension, its capacity to ameliorate DN, several experiments were carried out. These included measuring acetylcholinesterase, fasting blood glucose, insulin, genes dependent on autophagy or stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, and histopathological analysis.ResultsAccording to the results, the prepared Chr-PLs exhibited an average particle size of approximately 134 nm. They displayed even distribution of particle sizes. The maximum entrapment efficiency of 90.48 ± 7.75% was achieved. Chr-PLs effectively decreased blood glucose levels by 67.7% and elevated serum acetylcholinesterase levels by 40% compared to diabetic rats. Additionally, Chr-PLs suppressed the expression of ER stress-related genes (ATF-6, CHOP, XBP-1, BiP, JNK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR by 33%, 39.5%, 32.2%, 44.4%, 40.4%, 39.2%, 39%, and 35.9%, respectively). They also upregulated the miR-301a-5p expression levels by 513% and downregulated miR-301a-5p expression levels by 65%. They also boosted the expression of autophagic markers (AMPK, ULK1, Beclin 1, and LC3-II by 90.3%, 181%, 109%, and 78%, respectively) in the sciatic nerve. The histopathological analysis also showed that Chr-PLs inhibited sciatic nerve degeneration.ConclusionThe findings suggest that Chr-PLs may be helpful in the protection against DN via regulation of ER stress and autophagy.Graphical

SpSIZ1 from hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola orchestrates SpABI5 to fine-tune cadmium tolerance.

Sedum plumbizincicola is a renowned hyperaccumulator of cadmium (Cd), possesses significant potential for eco-friendly phytoremediation of soil contaminated with Cd. Nevertheless, comprehension of the mechanisms underpinning its Cd stress response remains constrained, primarily due to the absence of a comprehensive genome sequence and an established genetic transformation system. In this study, we successfully identified a novel protein that specifically responds to Cd stress through early comparative iTRAQ proteome and transcriptome analyses under Cd stress conditions. To further investigate its structure, we employed AlphaFold, a powerful tool for protein structure prediction, and found that this newly identified protein shares a similar structure with Arabidopsis AtSIZ1. Therefore, we named it Sedum plumbizincicola SIZ1 (SpSIZ1). Our study revealed that SpSIZ1 plays a crucial role in positively regulating Cd tolerance through its coordination with SpABI5. Overexpression of SpSIZ1 significantly enhanced plant resistance to Cd stress and reduced Cd accumulation. Expression pattern analysis revealed higher levels of SpSIZ1 expression in roots compared to stems and leaves, with up-regulation under Cd stress induction. Importantly, overexpressing SpSIZ1 resulted in lower Cd translocation factors (Tfs) but maintained relatively constant Cd levels in roots under Cd stress, leading to enhanced Cd stress resistance in plants. Protein interaction analysis revealed that SpSIZ1 interacts with SpABI5, and the expression of genes responsive to abscisic acid (ABA) through SpABI5-dependent signaling was significantly up-regulated in SpSIZ1-overexpressing plants with Cd stress treatment. Collectively, our results illustrate that SpSIZ1 interacts with SpABI5, enhancing the expression of ABA downstream stress-related genes through SpABI5, thereby increasing Cd tolerance in plants.

Neighborhood Disadvantage and Prostate Tumor RNA Expression of Stress-Related Genes

African American men experience greater prostate cancer incidence and mortality than White men. Growing literature supports associations of neighborhood disadvantage, which disproportionately affects African American men, with aggressive prostate cancer; chronic stress and downstream biological impacts (eg, increased inflammation) may contribute to these associations. To examine whether several neighborhood disadvantage metrics are associated with prostate tumor RNA expression of stress-related genes. This cross-sectional study leveraged prostate tumor transcriptomic data for African American and White men with prostate cancer who received radical prostatectomy at the University of Maryland Medical Center between August 1992 and January 2021. Data were analyzed from May 2023 to April 2024. Using addresses at diagnosis, 2 neighborhood deprivation metrics (Area Deprivation Index [ADI] and validated bayesian Neighborhood Deprivation Index) as well as the Racial Isolation Index (RI) and historical redlining were applied to participants' addresses. Self-reported race was determined using electronic medical records. A total of 105 stress-related genes were evaluated with each neighborhood metric using linear regression, adjusting for race, age, and year of surgery. Genes in the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) and stress-related signaling genes were included. A total of 218 men (168 [77%] African American, 50 [23%] White) with a median (IQR) age of 58 (53-63) years were included. African American participants experienced greater neighborhood disadvantage than White participants (median [IQR] ADI, 115 [100-130] vs 92 [83-104]; median [IQR] RI, 0.68 [0.34-0.87] vs 0.11 [0.06-0.14]). ADI was positively associated with expression for 11 genes; HTR6 (serotonin pathway) remained significant after multiple-comparison adjustment (β = 0.003; SE, 0.001; P < .001; Benjamini-Hochberg q value = .01). Several genes, including HTR6, were associated with multiple metrics. We observed higher expression of 5 proinflammatory genes in the CTRA with greater neighborhood disadvantage (eg, CXCL8 and ADI, β = 0.008; SE, 0.003; P = .01; q value = .21). In this cross-sectional study, the expression of several stress-related genes in prostate tumors was higher among men residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods. This study is one of the first to suggest associations of neighborhood disadvantage with prostate tumor RNA expression. Additional research is needed in larger studies to replicate findings and further investigate interrelationships of neighborhood factors, tumor biology, and aggressive prostate cancer to inform interventions to reduce disparities.

SlMDH3 Interacts with Autophagy Receptor Protein SlATI1 and Positively Regulates Tomato Heat Tolerance.

Autophagy, a highly conserved protein degradation system, plays an important role in protecting cells from adverse environmental conditions. ATG8-INTERACTING PROTEIN1 (ATI1) acts as an autophagy receptor, but its functional mechanisms in plants' heat stress tolerance remain unclear. In this study, using LC-MS/MS, we identified malate dehydrogenase (SlMDH3) as a SlATI1-interacting protein. Further studies showed that heat stress induced the expression of SlMDH3 and SlMDH3 co-localized with SlATI1 under both 22 °C and 42 °C heat treatment conditions. Moreover, silencing of SlMDH3 increased the sensitivity of tomato to heat stress, as evidenced by exacerbated degradation of chlorophyll; accumulation of MDA, H2O2, and dead cells; increased relative conductivity; and inhibition of stress-related gene expression. Conversely, overexpression of SlMDH3 improved tomato's heat tolerance, leading to opposite effects on physiological indicators and gene expression compared to SlMDH3 silencing. Taken together, our study suggests that SlMDH3 interacts with SlATI1 and positively regulates tomato heat tolerance.

A novel long non-coding RNA linc-93.2 participates in bisphenol induced oxidative stress and macrophage polarization in red common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Previous studies show that bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs induce oxidative stress and promote inflammatory response. However, the key molecules in regulating this process remain unclear. Here, we report significant inductive effects of BPA and bisphenol AF (BPAF) on a newly found long non-coding RNA linc-93.2 accompanied by oxidative stress and activation of pro-inflammatory pathways in treated fish and fish primary macrophages. Silencing linc-93.2 in fish primary macrophages in vitro or fish in vivo significantly promotes the expression of anti-oxidative stress-related genes and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, showing cell status disruption towards to M2 polarization. Followed by exposure to BPA or BPAF, silencing linc-93.2 in vitro or in vivo significantly attenuates the increased production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde level aroused by bisphenol treatment, possibly owing to the enhancement of total antioxidant capacity observed in cells and tissue after linc-93.2 knockdown. RNA-sequencing further revealed regulation of nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-κB) in linc-93.2's downstream network, combining with our previous observation on the upstream regulation of linc-93.2 via NF-κB, which together suggest a critical role of linc-93.2 in promoting NF-κB positive feedback loop that may be an important molecular event initiating the immunotoxicity of bisphenols.

Expression of Stress-Induced Genes in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cells and Lung Fibroblasts from Healthy and COPD Subjects.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly caused from smoking cigarettes that induce biological stress responses. Previously we found disorganized endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in fibroblasts from COPD with different responses to chemical stressors compared to healthy subjects. Here, we aimed to investigate differences in stress-related gene expressions within lung cells from COPD and healthy subjects. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells were collected from seven COPD and 35 healthy subjects. Lung fibroblasts were derived from 19 COPD and 24 healthy subjects and exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Gene and protein expression and cell proliferation were investigated. Compared to healthy subjects, we found lower gene expression of CHOP in lung fibroblasts from COPD subjects. Exposure to CSE caused inhibition of lung fibroblast proliferation in both groups, though the changes in ER stress-related gene expressions (ATF6, IRE1, PERK, ATF4, CHOP, BCL2L1) and genes relating to proteasomal subunits mostly occurred in healthy lung fibroblasts. No differences were found in BAL cells. In this study, we have found that lung fibroblasts from COPD subjects have an atypical ER stress gene response to CSE, particularly in genes related to apoptosis. This difference in response to CSE may be a contributing factor to COPD progression.

Heat-stress-responsive HvHSFA2e gene regulates the heat and drought tolerance in barley through modulation of phytohormone and secondary metabolic pathways.

The heat stress transcription factor HSFA2e regulates both temperature and drought response via hormonal and secondary metabolism alterations. High temperature and drought are the primary yield-limiting environmental constraints for staple food crops. Heat shock transcription factors (HSF) terminally regulate the plant abiotic stress responses to maintain growth and development under extreme environmental conditions. HSF genes of subclass A2 predominantly express under heat stress (HS) and activate the transcriptional cascade of defense-related genes. In this study, a highly heat-inducible HSF, HvHSFA2e was constitutively expressed in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to investigate its role in abiotic stress response and plant development. Transgenic barley plants displayed enhanced heat and drought tolerance in terms of increased chlorophyll content, improved membrane stability, reduced lipid peroxidation, and less accumulation of ROS in comparison to wild-type (WT) plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed that HvHSFA2e positively regulates the expression of abiotic stress-related genes encoding HSFs, HSPs, and enzymatic antioxidants, contributing to improved stress tolerance in transgenic plants. The major genes of ABA biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid, and terpene metabolism were also upregulated in transgenics. Our findings show that HvHSFA2e-mediated upregulation of heat-responsive genes, modulation in ABA and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways enhance drought and heat stress tolerance.

Light perception and related alternation of physiological performance in spotted knifejaw Oplegnathus punctatus

Light is one of the main environmental factors that affects the behavior and physiology of fish. In the present study, the behavioral responses, retinal histology, hematological parameters (white blood cell [WBC], red blood cell [RBC], hemoglobin [Hb] hematocrit [Hct]), hepatic antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px]) activity, aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, histological alterations, apoptosis, and stress-related gene expression (hsp70, hsp90a, hsp90b) of spotted knifejaw were investigated under different light colors. The results showed that the residence time of spotted knifejaw plants significantly decreased under red and blue light stimuli but significantly increased under green light. Moreover, a positive and negative phototaxis of the spotted knifejaw under green and red lights was observed. However, retinal structure (relative thickness, cell number, and size) remained unchanged after red and green light treatment for 12 h. WBC and RBC numbers, Hb and Hct contents, hepatic SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, ALT and AST activities, and MDA levels were significantly increased after red and green light treatment for 12 h. Moreover, red and green light treatment caused hepatocyte vacuolization and nuclear migration and significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells. Hepatic hsp70, hsp90a, and hsp90b mRNA levels were significantly upregulated under red and green stimuli. Furthermore, the values of the above parameters under red light treatment were significantly greater than those under green light treatment. The aforementioned parameters nearly recovered to normal levels after the fish returned to normal light for 12 h. In conclusion, in spotted knifejaw, green light promoted attraction and red light avoidance, while red light could induce a more sensitive physiological response than green light. These findings expand the current knowledge on light perception and aid in the management of spotted knifejaw in captivity.