Stress Response Research Articles

Exploring Plant Resilience Through Secondary Metabolite Profiling: Advances in Stress Response and Crop Improvement

ABSTRACTThe metabolome, encompassing small molecules within organisms, provides critical insights into physiology, environmental influences, and stress responses. Metabolomics enables comprehensive analysis of plant metabolites, uncovering biomarkers and mechanisms underlying stress adaptation. Regulatory genes such as MYB and WRKY are central to secondary metabolite synthesis and environmental resilience. By integrating metabolomics with genomics, researchers can explore stress‐related pathways and advance crop improvement efforts. This review examines metabolomic profiling under stress conditions, emphasizing drought tolerance mechanisms mediated by amino acids and organic acids. Additionally, it highlights the shikimate pathway's pivotal role in synthesizing amino acids and secondary metabolites essential for plant defense. These insights contribute to understanding metabolic networks that drive plant resilience, informing strategies for agricultural sustainability.

The Role of Abscisic Acid (ABA) Machinery in Stress Response

Increasing global temperatures, in tandem with predicted increases in future frequencies of drought and flooding episodes, represent a threat to agricultural productivity [...]

The Intestine – Anatomy, immunology, barrier function, microbiome and central regulations

The intestine, with its complex anatomy and intricate physiology, plays a fundamental role in maintaining overall health and well-being. Understanding the diverse functions of the intestine and the factors that can disrupt them is crucial for preventing and managing a wide range of diseases and pathological conditions. This review article explores the multifaceted role of the intestine in regulating human health across physiological and pathological states. A systematic search for relevant literature was conducted using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search terms included a combination of keywords related to the intestine, its functions, and relevant conditions (e.g., “intestine”, “mucosa”, “gut barrier dysfunction”, “microbiome”, “gut-brain axis”, “central regulations”, “bacterial translocation”). For this review, we included only peer-reviewed, full-text articles published in English that directly addressed the intestine’s role in regulating human health across physiological and pathological states. This review explores the intestine’s unique structure and its critical neuroregulatory connection with the brain, the gut-brain axis (GBA). Subsequently, we focus on the pathological consequences of gut barrier dysfunction and the microbiome’s contribution to both intestinal and extraintestinal health. Finally, we address the processes activated within the intestine during stress responses.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the PERK Gene Family in Brassica napus L. and Their Potential Roles in Clubroot Disease

The proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinase (PERK) gene family is crucial to various molecular and cellular processes in plants. We identified 50 PERK genes in Brassica napus to explore their evolutionary dynamics, structural diversity, and functional roles. These genes were grouped into four classes and unevenly distributed across 18 chromosomes. Phylogenetic studies and Ka/Ks ratios revealed purifying selection during the evolution process. They exhibited significant diversification in gene length, molecular weight, and isoelectric points, suggesting specialized function. Gene structure and motif analyses revealed variations among the BnPERK family members, with conserved tyrosine kinase domains suggesting functional importance. Cis-element analysis predicted the involvement in hormone signaling and stress responses. Expression profiling showed diverse patterns across tissues and hormone treatments, highlighting potential roles in growth regulation and hormone signaling. Protein–protein interaction networks suggested BnPERK proteins interact with a wide array of proteins, implicating them in multiple biological processes. The transcriptional downregulation of four BnPERK genes upon Plasmodiophora brassicae infection implied a role in clubroot disease response. Furthermore, the Arabidopsis perk9 mutant displayed relieved disease severity and enhanced basal immune response, suggesting the negative role of PERK9 in plant immunity. The study highlighted the potential role of BnPERKs in crop improvement strategies against clubroot disease.

Experimental and numerical studies on the twisted-bending mechanical performance of stacked REBCO tapes in twist stacked-tape cable

Abstract Twisted stacked-tape cable in conduit conductor (TSTC-CICC) structures are highly promising due to their ease of fabrication, flexibility, and high current density. In practical applications, the tapes within the conductor experience a combination of torsion and bending, which directly influence their mechanical integrity and electrical performance. This study investigates the mechanical behavior of stacked REBCO tapes in a 6-slot TSTC-CICC, focusing on stress and strain responses under varying twist pitches and bending radii. A shell element-based REBCO tape composite model was developed, and both experimental tests and finite element analyses were conducted to evaluate the mechanical response of the tapes under torsional and bending loads. In the experimental phase, conductor samples with twist pitches of 200 mm and 300 mm were fabricated to examine the onset of mechanical degradation under torsion-bending conditions. The sample with a 200 mm twist pitch showed critical current degradation at a bending radius of 700 mm, while the sample with a 300 mm twist pitch exhibited similar degradation at 900 mm. A finite element analysis method was developed to simulate 3D stacked REBCO tapes under torsion-bending conditions. For computational efficiency, the tapes were simplified into a shell structure. The simulation results revealed that axial strain distribution at critical current degradation points was consistent across different twist pitches and bending radii, closely aligning with experimental findings. The simulation and experimental results suggest that relative sliding between tapes plays a key role in mitigating stress concentration, potentially improving the longevity and performance of the TSTC-CICC in practical applications.

Plant Peptides Involved in ROS Signalling and Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses

Plant Peptides Involved in ROS Signalling and Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of TaFDL gene family responded to vernalization in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

BackgroundFLOWERING LOCUS D (FD) is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor known to be crucial in vernalization, flowering, and stress response across a variety of plants, including biennial and winter annual species. The TaFD-like (TaFDL) gene in wheat is the functional homologue of Arabidopsis FD, yet research on the TaFDL gene family in wheat is still lacking.ResultsIn this study, a total of 62 TaFDL gene family members were identified and classified into 4 main subfamilies, and these genes were located on 21 chromosomes. A comprehensive analysis of the basic physicochemical properties, gene structure, conservation motif, conserved domain, and advanced protein structure of TaFDL gene family revealed the conservation among its individual subfamily. The family members underwent purifying selection. The segmental duplication events were the main driving force behind the expansion of the TaFDL gene family. The TaFDL gene family underwent differentiation in the evolution of FD genes. Additionally, the subcellular localization and transcriptional activation activities of five key TaFDL members were demonstrated. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations and promoter cis-regulatory element analysis indicated that the TaFDL members may play potential roles in regulating flowering, hormone response, low-temperature response, light response, and stress response, which were verified by transcriptome data analysis. Specifically, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that five TaFDL genes exhibited differential responses to different vernalization conditions in winter wheat seeding. Finally, the homologous genes of the five key TaFDL genes across nine different wheat cultivars highlight significant genetic diversity.ConclusionThese findings enrich the research on FD and its homologous genes, providing valuable insights into the TaFDL gene family’s response to vernalization.

Genome-Wide Identification of β-Ketoacyl CoA Synthase Gene Family in Melon (Cucumis melo L.) and Its Expression Analysis in Autotoxicity, Saline-Alkali, and Microplastic Exposure Environments

β-ketoacyl CoA synthase (KCS) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids. It affects plant stress resistance by regulating the chain length of fatty acid elongation products, the wax deposition in plant epidermis, and the formation of suberization layers. Through a comprehensive, genome-wide analysis, we identified members of the melon KCS (CmKCS) family and characterized their sequence features, phylogenetic relationships, and expression profiles under three abiotic stress conditions, employing bioinformatics tools and methods. Fifteen CmKCSs were identified in the melon genome and found to be unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. The subcellular localization of most members is located on the cytoplasmic membrane and chloroplasts. The CmKCS family amplifies its members in a tandem repeat manner, which is more closely related to the cucumber KCS and has similar gene functions. Subfamilies I, IV, and VI exhibit variations in conserved domain sequences, which may indicate specific functional differentiation. The promoter region harbors various cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and abiotic stress responses. Among these, the most abundant are elements responsive to abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and anaerobic induction. CmKCS5, CmKCS6, CmKCS10, and CmKCS12 showed high expression in autotoxicity, saline-alkali stress, and microplastic exposure environments. These four CmKCSs may play important roles in melon development and stress response. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the CmKCS gene family, revealing its potential roles in melon’s response to abiotic stresses and laying a foundation for further functional characterization of these genes in stress tolerance mechanisms.

Proteostasis Disruption in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.

Proteostasis Disruption in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.

Supplementing Freezing Medium with Crocin Exerts a Protective Effect on Bovine Spermatozoa Through the Modulation of a Heat Shock-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway

The supplementation of freezing medium with crocin results in an amelioration of post-thawing sperm quality, as determined by motility and viability. This study aimed to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effect of crocin. Bovine spermatozoa were cryopreserved in a freezing medium supplemented with 0, 0.5, or 1 mM of crocin. Sperm lysates were evaluated for their redox status and the expression of proteins implicated in the heat stress response (HSR) and apoptosis. Crocin protected spermatozoa from the accumulation of superoxide anion and ameliorated their post-thawing antioxidant capacity in terms of ROS scavenging activity and glutathione content. Moreover, crocin decreased the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), while it increased superoxide dimsutase-1 (SOD-1) levels. These effects were associated with an inhibition of apoptosis, as evidenced by a decreased Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratio and decreased levels of caspase-cleaved substrates. Finally, crocin affected the heat shock response of spermatozoa, since it upregulated the levels of heat shock proteins (Hsp) 60, 70, and 90. In conclusion, the addition of crocin to the freezing medium ensured controlled amounts of ROS, enhanced the antioxidant capacity of spermatozoa, and upregulated the anti-apoptotic proteins and Hsps, thus contributing to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.

Chemically-induced cellular stress signals are transmitted to alternative splicing via UsnRNA levels to alter gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing (AS) is a crucial regulatory layer of gene expression in eukaryotes. AS patterns can change in response to abiotic and biotic stress, allowing cellular functions to adapt to environmental conditions. Here, we examined the effects of cellular stress-inducing chemicals on AS-mediated gene regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana by investigating the alternatively spliced forms of SERINE-ARGININE PROTEIN30 (SRp30) and U1-70 K, encoding splicing factors, as well as ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE3 (APX3) and FOLYLPOLYGLUTAMATE SYNTHASE3 (FPGS3), encoding enzymes important for stress responses. Disrupting key cellular activities, including nitric oxide metabolism, ATPase activity, plastid function, and genome stability, affected AS patterns in Arabidopsis. Stress treatment altered the abundance of uridine-rich small nuclear RNAs (UsnRNAs), especially U1 snRNAs, which are essential non-coding RNA components of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (U1 snRNPs), suggesting that abnormalities in AS are partially mediated by changes in U1 snRNA levels. The shoot redifferentiation defectice2-1 (srd2-1) mutant defective for snRNA transcription was hypersensitive for stress treatment, since it showed changes in AS patterns at lower concentrations of stress inducers to compare with the wild type. Together, our data suggest that cellular stress can influence gene expression in plants by regulating AS, which is partially regulated by UsnRNA levels through the SRD2-mediated snRNA transcription.

Genome-wide exploration and characterization of the RALFs and analysis of its role in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

BackgroundRapid alkalinization factors (RALFs) are small peptides hormones that regulate plant growth and stress responses. Although RALFs have been identified in a broad range of land plant species, their roles in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) remain largely unexplored.ResultA total of 24 AhRALF genes we identified in the peanut genome and classified them into three clades through phylogenetic analysis. Whole genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication primarily drives the expansion of AhRALFs. Gene transcription analysis revealed that two genes from clade II (AhRALF1 and AhRALF12) and three from clade III (AhRALF8, AhRALF10, and AhRALF21) are highly expressed across 18 different tissues. Notably, AhRALF11 and AhRALF24, paralogous genes from clade II, are specifically expressed in immature buds and flowers. Additionally, AhRALF1, AhRALF12, AhRALF8, and AhRALF21 exhibited elevated expression under aluminum (Al) stress. Functional analysis of AhRALF1 confirmed its secretory function and inhibitory effect on root growth in Arabidopsis. Moreover, AhRALF1-silenced plants displayed reduced tolerance to Al stress, with altered antioxidant enzyme activities and increased oxidative damage.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive analysis of the AhRALF gene family in peanut, highlighting their roles in growth regulation and stress responses. The function of AhRALF1 in enhancing peanut tolerance to Al stress was preliminary revealed. Our findings provide valuable insights into the roles of AhRALFs in peanuts and lay the groundwork for future functional studies and breeding programs.

Impact of intermittent high-dose radon exposures on lung epithelial cells: proteomic analysis and biomarker identification.

Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, and radon exposure is ranked as the second risk factor after cigarette smoking. It has been reported that radon induces deoxyribonucleic acid damage and oxidative stress in cells. However, the protein profile and potential biomarkers for early detection of radon-induced lung cancer remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of intermittent high-dose radon exposure on lung epithelial cells, analyze protein profiles and identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis of radon-related lung cancer. Human lung epithelial cells (A549) were exposed to radon (1000Bq/m3) for 30min daily for 7days. Cell viability was measured using the WST-1 assay, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry proteomic analysis was performed. Differentially expressed proteins and gene ontology (GO) enrichment were analyzed. Our findings showed that intermittent high-radon exposure reduced A549 cell viability over time. Proteomic analysis identified proteins associated with stressed-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial adaptation, nuclear integrity and lysosomal degradation. These proteins are related to catabolism, stress response, gene expression and metabolic processes in the biological process of GO analysis. We highlighted specific proteins, including AKR1B1, CDK2, DAPK1, PRDX1 and ALHD2 with potential as biomarkers for radon-related lung cancer. In summary, intermittent high-dose radon exposure affects cellular adaptions of lung epithelial cells including stress-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunctions and immune regulation. The identified proteins may serve as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for radon-related lung cancer.

Extracellular vesicles modulate metabolic processes in Prymnesium parvum, the causative species of algal blooms.

Extracellular vesicles modulate metabolic processes in Prymnesium parvum, the causative species of algal blooms.

Characterization of Dynamic Adaptation to Stressors using Multi-System Stimulus-Response Data: The Study of Physical Resilience in Aging Pilot.

Resilience to stressors has emerged as a major gerontological concept aiming to promote more positive outcomes for older adults. Achieving this aim relies on determining mechanisms underlying capacity to respond resiliently. This paper seeks proof of principle for the hypothesis that physical aspects of said capacity are rooted in the fitness of one's physiology governing stress response, conceptualized as a dynamical system. The Study of Physical Resilience in Aging ("SPRING") leveraged stimulus-response experiments to characterize physiological fitness in older adults scheduled for one of three major stressors: Total knee replacement, incident hemodialysis, or bone marrow transplant in hematological cancer. Here we analyze Holter monitor time series characterizing heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation, and repeated diurnal salivary cortisol assessment in the SPRING pilot (n=79). Principal component analysis was applied anticipating steady-state and "adaptation" mechanisms underlying the repeated physiological measures. Analytic features evidenced these mechanisms, supporting construct validity. Component scores were analyzed by major stressor, hypothesized surrogate physiologic measures (physical frailty phenotype, self-report of health), and demographic, health and behavioral characteristics. Scores differed substantially by stressor type and the surrogate physiologic measures, evidencing criterion validity. Our data support that HRV, ACTH and salivary cortisol stimulus-response data jointly assess adaptation capacity across three major stressors. We believe that SPRING is the first study in humans to concurrently query multiple physiologic systems using stimulus-response tests. Our findings lay groundwork for future validation with further data and to better forecast resilience of older adults to clinical stressors.

Clusterin deficiency exacerbates cholestatic liver disease through ER stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation

BackgroundCholestatic liver disease, characterized by impaired bile flow, leads to the accumulation of harmful metabolites and toxins, resulting in liver damage. Inflammatory cytokines are crucial for the progression of this condition. Clusterin is a glycoprotein with roles in cell death, lipid transport, and cellular protection. We previously demonstrated that clusterin protects against hepatic steatosis and hepatic fibrosis. This study explored the roles of clusterin in cholestatic liver injury induced by a DDC (3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine) diet.MethodsThe study evaluated the impact of clusterin on liver injury in C57BL/6 mice and clusterin-knockout (KO) mice fed a DDC diet for 10–20 days. Primary Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatocytes (HCs) of these mice were analyzed. Techniques such as Sirius red staining, immunohistochemistry, real-time RT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and western blotting were performed to assess the effects of clusterin.ResultsClusterin expression was upregulated in the cholestatic liver. Clusterin-KO mice exhibited elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, collagen, and αSMA upon DDC diet-induced liver injury. They also had increased levels of markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (CHOP, ATF6, and p-eIF2α) and inflammasome activity (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) protein expression, and IL1β and interleukin 18 secretion). Thapsigargin, an ER stress inducer, heightened NLRP3 inflammasome activation in primary KCs and HCs, which was mitigated by overexpression of clusterin.ConclusionsThe absence of clusterin exacerbates ER stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice fed a DDC diet. Conversely, overexpression of clusterin suppresses these stress responses. Thus, clusterin deficiency is associated with an enhanced inflammasome response in the liver that is linked to upregulation of ER stress.

High-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Can Improve Attentional Control Under Stress: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence.

Psychological stress impairs cognition, forcing attention toward stressor-related information. However, stress may reallocate limited cognitive resources in adaptive ways. How stress modulates the attentional control remains unclear. In this study, the stress-related changes in both target processing and distractor interference were investigated in Experiment 1, where an additional singleton task was employed with a stress group and a control group. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been associated with both stress responses and attentional control. The role of the left DLPFC in regulating attention control under stress was investigated using repetitive TMS in Experiment 2, which included control-vertex, stress-vertex, and stress-DLPFC groups. Electroencephalography was recorded. The results showed that, (1) the stress/stress-vertex group exhibited increased RT attentional capture effect and greater distractor-elicited N2pc effect compared with the control/control-vertex group, indicating increased distractor interference under stress. (2) The stress/stress-vertex group exhibited a greater target-elicited N2pc effect compared with the control/control-vertex group, suggesting enhanced target processing under stress. (3) Compared with the stress-vertex group, the stress-DLPFC group exhibited greater target-elicited N2pc effect, but a similar distractor-elicited N2pc effect, suggesting that left-DLPFC stimulation improved target processing but exerted no influence on distractor processing. In addition, faster RTs, along with a reduced RT attentional capture effect, were found for the stress-DLPFC group, implying that the target processing following left-DLPFC stimulation might be less affected by the distractor due to the heightened target processing. The left DLPFC may play a crucial role in modulating attentional control under stress.

Metabolomic and molecular analysis reveals multiple pathways of TBBPA-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos.

Metabolomic and molecular analysis reveals multiple pathways of TBBPA-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos.

PgMYB96 enhances Physalis grisea high temperature tolerance by activating trithorax-like factor WD REPEAT CONTAINING5b.

Under the general trend of global warming, high temperature stress (HTS) is an increasingly grievous challenge to the normal growth and development of crops. Exposure to high temperature (42°C) during the growth and development stages of Physalis grisea can result in the breakdown of antimicrobials, sterility of pollen, and diminished yields. In this study, trithorax-like factor PgWDR5b was functionally analysed in response to high temperature stress in P. grisea. PgWDR5b expression was enhanced through treatments with HTS and abscisic acid (ABA), PgWDR5b promoted the level of expression of downstream ABA synthesis genes after HTS, and positively contributes to tolerance to high temperature stress in P. grisea. In addition, the transcription factor PgMYB96 binds the promoter of PgWDR5b. Silencing both PgWDR5b and PgMYB96 reduced the high temperature tolerance of the P. grisea, as well as the synthesis genes for ABA showed decreased expression while the catabolic genes had increased levels of expression. The results of overexpression assay were contrary. Furthermore, ABA directly activates PgWDR5b expression. These results collectively suggest that PgMYB96 can both regulate PgWDR5b expression by affecting ABA synthesis and directly activate PgWDR5b transcription. Hence, PgWDR5b can participate in the high temperature stress response of P. grisea through the metabolic pathway of ABA and establishes a positive feedback regulatory mechanism with ABA.

Dual RNA-Seq Reveals Strain-Specific Transcriptional Adaptations of Trypanosoma cruzi in Host Cells Infected with Isolates from Acute and Chronic Cases.

Dual RNA-Seq Reveals Strain-Specific Transcriptional Adaptations of Trypanosoma cruzi in Host Cells Infected with Isolates from Acute and Chronic Cases.