Search Results (990)

Drought stress severely limits plant growth and productivity, yet the molecular basis of drought tolerance and post-drought recovery remains incompletely understood in many forage legumes. Medicago ruthenica is a perennial legume native to arid and cold regions and exhibits strong drought resilience. Results: We integrated key physiological traits related to stomatal regulation, photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense with RNA-seq across four stages (well-watered control, CK; drought for 9 days, D9; drought for 12 days, D12; and rewatering for 4 days, RW). Drought triggered stage-dependent physiological shifts, and transcriptome profiling identified >3000 drought- and rewatering-responsive genes enriched in primary metabolism, redox homeostasis and hormone signaling. WGCNA highlighted two drought-associated modules (MEcyan and MEcoral1) and prioritized three hub transcription factors for functional validation: 861 (AP2/ERF), 22 (WRKY) and 89 (bZIP). Overexpression of each gene in tobacco improved drought tolerance, as indicated by enhanced growth/root traits, increased osmolyte accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced membrane damage. Conclusions: Together, these results provide an integrated view of drought stress response and recovery in M. ruthenica and identify 861, 22 and 89 as candidate regulatory genes for engineering drought resilience in legumes. Full article

We assess associations between emergency room (ER) visits, scaled to per 10⁵ population per year, for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), two of the most common respiratory diseases, and zip code-level exposure to criteria air pollutants (CAPs) coming from point sources in New York State (NYS) from 2010 to 2018. Exposure data on point source CAPs were retrieved from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) National Emission Inventory (NEI) database, and ER visits for asthma and COPD were acquired from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). To account for within-county variability, we used log-linear mixed effects models, adjusted for year, sex, age category, county-level poverty, smoking, PM_2.5, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and CAPs sources within the study period. Results show significant associations between ER visits for asthma and COPD and most of the pollutants in the study, even after adjusting for the effects of poverty and smoking. Although point source emissions comprise a small portion of total air pollution, our findings show that zip code-level point source CAPs, especially the gaseous pollutants, pose a modest but significant contribution to the risk of respiratory disease-related ER visits. Full article

Apostichopus japonicus undergoes evisceration in response to adverse environmental stimuli, and its coelomocytes undergo rapid regeneration within 6–24 h to restore innate immune function. FOS, an immediate early gene, regulates cell proliferation and cycle, but its role in A. japonicus coelomocyte regeneration after evisceration is unclear. In this study, AjFOSL from A. japonicus was cloned, which harbors a 609 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 202 amino acids (aa) with a conserved bZIP domain and is localized on chromosome 14. It shares 58% homology with FOS from Holothuria leucospilota and Lytechinus pictus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AjFOSL clusters closely with FOS from Magallana gigas and Mytilus edulis. Tissue distribution analysis showed that AjFOSL was widely expressed in various tissues, with the highest expression level detected in the tentacles. Temporal expression profiling demonstrated that AjFOSL was significantly upregulated by 1.75-fold at 6 h after evisceration. After AjFOSL knockdown, the peak expression of Cyclin A, Cyclin B, and E2F was delayed and the coelomocyte number was consistently reduced compared with that in the evisceration-only group. The AjFOSL acted as an immediate early response gene and was associated with the regulation of coelomocyte regeneration by modulating the expression of cell cycle-related genes. This study provides novel insights into the molecular associations underlying coelomocyte regeneration and the evolutionary adaptation of FOS genes in echinoderms. Full article

It is estimated that at least 16.1% of croplands in China are polluted with heavy metals, and cadmium (Cd) is a typical toxic element inhibiting plant growth. Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense, a C4 plant with high biomass and stress tolerance, has potential for phytoremediation, but its Cd tolerance mechanism remains unclear. In this study, physiological and transcriptomic responses of Cd-tolerant (S6) and sensitive (2190A/201900131) cultivars were analyzed under 25 mg/L Cd stress. The results showed that S6 exhibited milder phenotypic inhibition (leaf yellowing, growth retardation) than the sensitive cultivar. Cd was mainly accumulated in roots (S6: 4988.37 mg/kg; sensitive: 7030.06 mg/kg at 7 d), with S6 having a lower translocation factor. Physiologically, S6 maintained higher chlorophyll content, stable photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm, PI), and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, while antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, APX) genes were significantly upregulated. Transcriptomic analysis identified 47,797 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enriched in glutathione metabolism, ABC transporter-mediated transport, metal chelation, and antioxidant defense pathways. Genes related to cell wall biosynthesis, metal transporters (ZIP, HMA), and transcription factors (MYB, WRKY) were synergistically upregulated in S6, enhancing Cd sequestration and detoxification. These findings clarify the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Cd tolerance in Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense, providing a basis for its application in Cd-contaminated soil phytoremediation. Full article

Drought stress is a significant environmental factor affecting plant growth, fruit quality and distribution. Wild jujube is an important species of eco-economic forest tree. In this study, two wild jujube families, ‘NO. 1’ (tolerant) and ‘NO. 5’ (sensitive), which show significant differences in morphological and physiological indicators in drought treatment, are considered. Compared with the ‘NO. 5’, the ‘NO. 1’ exhibited lower water loss, leaf yellowing and abscission rates, as well as reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content, while showing higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and elevated levels of soluble sugars (SS), soluble proteins (SP), and proline (Pro). In contrast, the ‘NO. 5’ suffered more severe damage to leaf epidermal cells compared with the ‘NO. 1’, accompanied by a significant decline in net photosynthetic rate (A) and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi). Transcriptomic profiles between two wild jujube families with markedly different drought responses (withholding water for 15 days) are shown. The two wild jujube families included 3238 up-regulated and 2675 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Many DEGs enriched in the GO and KEGG pathways are related to antioxidant activity, transmembrane transport, carbohydrate biosynthesis and metabolism, plant hormones, and photosynthesis. The biosynthesis of amino acids, the MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and flavonoid and alkaloid biosynthesis were the transcriptome modifications most significantly altered by drought stress. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the precision of the RNA-seq data. ZjJIP23-1, ZjbZIP53, ZjSPS8, ZjCAO, ZjADH1 and ZjERF39 may play important roles in the drought tolerance of the wild jujube. This study provides a solid foundation for further studies on the complex mechanisms and breeding of drought-resistant plants in wild jujube. Full article

Phosphorus (P) limitation is a major selective pressure in plant evolution and a persistent constraint on modern crop production. However, how domestication has reshaped P adaptation strategies remains poorly understood. Here, we compared wild (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and cultivated (Solanum lycopersicum) tomatoes under contrasting P conditions using integrated physiological, ionomic, and transcriptomic analyses. Our findings reveal distinct P strategies between the examined genotypes. Cultivated tomatoes achieved higher biomass under sufficient P supply but were highly sensitive to P deficiency, responding through acquisition-driven phenotypic plasticity characterized by extensive root remodeling and enhanced external P mobilization. In contrast, wild accessions maintained growth and higher P use efficiency under low P by relying on an optimized internal P management strategy, including efficient P uptake, preferential allocation to photosynthetically active tissues, and effective remobilization from older leaves. Consistently, ionomic profiling revealed that wild tomatoes preserved coordinated macro- and micronutrient homeostasis under P stress. Tissue-specific transcriptomic analyses further uncovered pronounced divergence in P-responsive regulation, with cultivated tomatoes showing predominantly root-centered responses, whereas wild accessions exhibited strong activation in old source leaves. This tissue-specific specialization was accompanied by a putative regulatory divergence, with HD-ZIP transcription factors enriched in cultivated tomatoes and G2-like and bHLH factors central in wild accessions. Together, our results indicate that modern cultivars exhibit a stronger reliance on external P acquisition and greater growth sensitivity under sustained P limitation compared to wild accessions, which showed relatively more stable internal P allocation patterns, highlighting wild germplasm as a resource for improving crop P efficiency. Full article

Soybean is a primary global vegetable oil source, yet modern South American cultivars often exhibit superior oil content compared to those from China, the center of origin. Elucidating the genetic basis of this differentiation is crucial for enhancing production efficiency. In this study, we systematically evaluated 98 representative accessions, comprising Chinese germplasm (CN) and Uruguayan germplasm. The latter included Uruguayan conventional germplasm (UY_N, where ‘N’ indicates ‘Normal’, meaning non-transgenic) and Uruguayan transgenic germplasm (UY_T). Using the “Zhongdouxin No. 1” SNP array and multi-environment phenotypic data. Uruguayan germplasm exhibited significantly higher mean oil content (21.48%) than Chinese germplasm (19.42%, p < 0.001), with high heritability (H² ranging from 0.78 to 0.92). Genetic analysis revealed significant differentiation (mean F_ST = 0.14), with Uruguayan lines showing reduced diversity due to breeding bottlenecks. Genome-wide scans identified differentiation in genomic regions harboring known lipid biosynthesis genes; notably, the high-oil allele frequency of GmDGAT1 was 78.3% in Uruguayan germplasm versus 25.7% in Chinese lines, and the favorable GmbZIP123 haplotype was fixed in the Uruguayan population. Uruguayan accessions also carried significantly more favorable alleles (18.3) than Chinese accessions (14.8). We conclude that high-oil traits in Uruguayan soybean result from the systematic stacking of favorable haplotypes at key loci via directional selection. Consequently, we propose incorporating South American high-oil allelic modules into the broadly adapted genetic backgrounds of Chinese cultivars to bridge the oil content gap. Full article

Increased air pollution and associated disease prognosis are a serious concern in communities across the socioeconomic spectrum. Past studies have shown that a major component of air pollution, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), is elevated in majority-Black communities in the US to greater levels than those in majority-White communities, which can potentially contribute to higher rates of respiratory health issues. In this study, we address whether PM_2.5 correlates with increased asthma rates in Durham, North Carolina. We selected monitoring sites in different census tracts within the same zip code with disparate levels of asthma to quantify and characterize PM_2.5 levels. We found that South Durham, which has higher asthma hospitalization rates, has higher average PM_2.5 levels (78.49 µg/m³) than North Durham (26.3 µg/m³). We measured the elemental composition of PM samples using transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX) and found significant differences in the levels of Na, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Ti. Our data suggests that these differences in ambient PM_2.5 could contribute to differences in health outcomes in the two areas. We also discuss these differences in the context of social vulnerability within the two study sites and show that the more vulnerable site (South Durham) experiences higher pollution rates. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of male cancer-related mortality, largely driven by the dysregulated activation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic review aims to consolidate contemporary evidence regarding natural products as bioactive alternatives capable of targeting the AR signaling axis. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The review identified and qualitatively analyzed 15 original research studies that investigated the efficacy and mechanisms of various natural compounds in modulating AR signaling. Results: The analysis reveals that natural products deactivate the AR signaling axis through diverse mechanisms. Neoisoliquiritin and α-terthienyl were found to suppress AR expression, activity, and nuclear translocation. Notably, α-mangostin facilitates the degradation of the AR-V7 splice variant, a key driver of treatment resistance. Manzamine A inhibits AR biosynthesis by targeting the transcription factor E2F8. Furthermore, alternative pathways are modulated through 5-α-reductase inhibition (Annona muricata compounds) and the activation of the non-classical membrane receptor ZIP9 by (-)-epicatechin to induce apoptosis. Conclusions: The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the exploration of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic review consolidates contemporary evidence regarding natural products as potential bioactive alternatives for modulating the androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis. Rather than providing a definitive clinical roadmap, this work establishes a preclinical framework for identifying substances that may deactivate the receptor, break down its resistant forms, or prevent nuclear translocation. Full article

In recent years, insect-derived peptides have attracted attention for their potential biological activities, particularly antioxidant properties. This study assessed the antioxidant activity of two widely consumed edible insects, T. molitor and A. diaperinus larvae, using cell-free and cell-based approaches. Whole lyophilized larvae, digestion products from the oral, gastric, and intestinal phases, as well as the <3 kDa permeate fraction (D-P3) derived from the intestinal digestion phase, were evaluated using biochemical antioxidant assays. Overall, digested samples exhibited higher antioxidant capacity than their undigested counterparts. At the cellular level, treatment of LPS-stimulated, PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages with A. diaperinus D-P3 was associated with increased mRNA expression of genes related to antioxidant defense, including NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 (NFE2L2, also known as Nrf2), glutathione-disulfide reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and catalase (CAT), whereas T. molitor D-P3 preferentially modulated nuclear factor kappa B p50 subunit (NFKB1) and nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit (RELA). Overall, these findings indicate that gastrointestinal digestion enhances the bioaccessibility of antioxidant components in both edible insect species while revealing species-specific transcriptional responses under in vitro inflammatory conditions. This multilevel assessment provides mechanistic insight into the antioxidant-related biological activity of digestion-derived insect peptides and supports their further investigation as functional ingredients in food and feed systems. Full article

Salt stress is a major environmental constraint affecting plant growth and productivity. Crop wild relatives provide valuable genetic resources for stress tolerance, yet transcriptomic information for forest-derived wild species remains limited. In this study, we analyzed transcriptional responses of V. hirsuta, a crop wild relative (CWR) of legumes, after seven days of salt stress using de novo transcriptome sequencing. Seedlings were exposed to salt stress, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between control (Vh_S0) and salt-treated (Vh_S7) plants using an FDR-adjusted threshold (q < 0.05). Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that salt-responsive DEGs were mainly involved in regulatory signaling, metabolic adjustment, redox-related processes, and macromolecular organization. Up- and down-regulated DEGs showed distinct yet overlapping enrichment patterns, indicating complex transcriptional reprogramming under salt stress. Transcription factor analysis identified bHLH, MYB, bZIP, NAC, and WRKY families as major regulators, with many families containing both up- and down-regulated members. Notably, genes associated with Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis were consistently up-regulated and validated by qRT-PCR. These results suggest that continuous seven days salt stress adaptation in V. hirsuta involves coordinated regulation of signaling pathways, transcriptional networks, and transporter-mediated ion homeostasis, providing a valuable transcriptomic resource for crop wild relatives. Full article

Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper (HD-Zip) constitutes a distinct class of plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) that serves an essential function in mediating plant responses to environmental cues, with the HD-Zip II subfamily recognized as a major regulator of light-intensity adaptation and other environmental responses. However, the involvement of HD-Zip genes in regulating the light response of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. is largely unexplored. In this study, a genome-wide identification, classification, and expression analysis of the HD-Zip gene family in J. mandshurica was conducted. Furthermore, transcriptomic profiling under varying light-intensity conditions was performed to investigate the transcriptional regulation and potential functional networks of differentially expressed HD-Zip genes. The results showed that a total of 57 HD-Zip family genes were identified in J. mandshurica (named as JmHD-Zip) and classified into four subfamilies (HD-Zip I, HD-Zip II, HD-Zip III and HD-Zip IV). Gene structure and phylogenetic analyses indicated that members within the same subfamily exhibited analogous structural characteristics and shared strong homology with closely related species such as Juglans sigillata Dode and Populus trichocarpa. Torr. & A.Gray ex Hook. Promoter cis-acting element analysis revealed that the promoter regions of JmHD-Zip genes were enriched with multiple regulatory motifs associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, and stress regulation. Protein–protein interaction network analysis identified JmHDZ57 and JmHDZ43 as the central genes of the differentially expressed HD-Zip genes. Through validation of gene functions, JmHDZ43 promotes plant growth by coordinating shade-responsive morphogenesis via integration of light and hormone signaling pathways. This study offers a theoretical foundation and candidate gene resources for breeding initiatives and molecular investigations of light adaptation in J. mandshurica and potentially other woody species. Full article

Background: International guidelines recommend tight blood pressure (BP) control in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). Hypertension in TAA patients has been associated with an increased rate of aneurysm growth and also with aortic dissection or aortic rupture. We aimed to study BP control in TAA patients referred by a primary or cardiology provider to a tertiary aortic management program. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 3525 consecutive patients with confirmed TAA diagnosis referred by a primary-care or cardiology provider for management at the Lankenau Aortic Surgical Program between January 2021 and December 2024. Blood pressure was registered using an appropriately sized cuff and a calibrated automated sphygmomanometer. Clinical and demographic data were compared between patients with different stages of hypertension, based on the 2023 ESH guidelines. Results: The overall rate of above-target BP in TAA patients was 54.2% (1911/3525). From the hypertension group, Stage 1 (BP > 140/90) accounted for 53.4% (1020/1911) of patients, with Stage 2 (BP > 160/100) accounting for 12.6% (241/1911) and Stage 3 (BP > 180/110) for 1.8% (35/1911). Among associations of hypertension with demographic data by zip code, no significant differences were observed between groups with respect to race, median household income, or house value. There was a tendency of lower BP in patients from residential areas with higher rates of college graduates compared to those without college education (OR: 0.995; p = 0.059). Conclusions: Hypertension remains both highly prevalent and inadequately controlled in patients with TAA, even within specialized care environments. These findings emphasize the need for a more comprehensive approach to risk factor management to improve outcomes in this high-risk population. Full article

Soil salinization poses a major constraint to global agriculture. Apocynum venetum, a salt-tolerant halophyte, provides an effective model for investigating salt-adaptive strategies; however, the temporal dynamics of its tolerance-associated genes and metabolites remain unclear. In this study, integrated transcriptomics, metabolomics (UHPLC-MS), physiological assays, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were conducted to characterize early (7-day) and late (18-day) responses to 200 mM NaCl stress. NaCl stress significantly reduced chlorophyll content while increasing Na⁺ accumulation, MDA levels, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and CAT), and total flavonoid content. Early responses (NaCl7) were marked by accumulation of ferulic acid, rhamnetin, and 3,4-dihydrocoumarin, with activation of plant hormone (ABA, auxin, zeatin) and MAPK signaling pathways. Late responses (NaCl18) exhibited increased accumulation of scopoletin, formononetin, and caffeyl-alcohol, with enrichment of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, and photosynthesis-related pathways. WGCNA identified early-response hub genes, including AOC, MAPKKK17/18, CYP98A, and CCoAOMT, coordinating stress signaling and antioxidant metabolism. Late stress responses involved genes like CPK, GST, CYCD3, and ARF, modulating calcium signaling and ROS detoxification. Genes shared across phases included CYP90C1, HD-ZIP, HSP20, and PP2C, regulating protein stabilization and stress signaling. These findings reveal a two-phase salt tolerance strategy in A. venetum, integrating early signaling and late metabolic adaptation. Full article

Starch biosynthesis is a fundamental process influencing yield and fruit quality in banana, with ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) serving as the rate-limiting enzyme catalyzing sucrose conversion into starch. However, the mechanisms underlying functional differentiation of AGPase family genes following polyploidization remain largely unexplored. In this study, eight AGPase genes, including large (MaAPL) and small subunit (MaAPS) members, were identified from the banana (Musa acuminata) genome, all harboring the conserved ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase domain. Phylogenetic analysis traced their evolutionary origin to the ancient moss Physcomitrella patens, with polyploidization identified as the primary driver of gene family expansion. These genes exhibit conserved codon usage bias and have undergone strong purifying selection. Among them, MaAPS1 displayed distinct functional differentiation, increased intron number, enriched promoter cis-elements, and significantly elevated expression—features likely contributing to its adaptation for enhanced starch accumulation in fruit. Furthermore, the MaAPS1 protein was predominately localized in the chloroplast. Functional validation supported its regulatory involvement: transient silencing in banana fruit reduced starch content, while transient overexpression in banana fruit increased starch levels. Co-expression and molecular docking analyses revealed that transcription factors ERF1, C3H1, bZIP1, and bZIP3 may interact with the MaAPS1 promoter, indicating a multifactorial regulatory network. Overall, this study provides insights into polyploidy-driven functional innovation and transcriptional regulation of MaAPS1 in banana starch biosynthesis, providing valuable molecular targets for genetic improvement of yield and fruit quality. Full article