Search Results (1,746)

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is a master transcription factor of integrated stress response (ISR), an evolutionarily conserved intracellular signaling network that helps the cell, tissue, and organism to adapt to various unpredictable environmental fluctuations, mitigate the challenges, and maintain health. Stress-induced ATF4 expression regulates a wild variety of gene expression programs to enable stress management and repair for cell homeostasis and integrity. However, chronic ATF4 activation contributes to pathologies including cancer, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Extensive studies have revealed that ATF4 regulates many cellular processes including autophagy, apoptosis, metabolism, and inflammation. Emerging evidence has uncovered new signaling pathways in regulation of ATF4 expression and activation, including at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels, and new functions of ATF4 in the progression of various metabolic and stress-related diseases, including inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The diversity of ATF4 functions is increasingly appreciated. This review summarizes the recent findings of the complex regulatory network of ATF4 activity and its roles in integrating stress responses, metabolic reprogramming, unfolded protein responses, autophagy, inflammation, and immunity. Full article

The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the Mediterranean region and represents an important genetic resource for both traditional and emerging production systems. Despite its agronomic and economic relevance, modern fig breeding remains limited, and large-scale phenotypic evaluations across Mediterranean germplasms are still scarce. The objective of this study was to assess phenotypic diversity and identify key agronomic traits relevant for fig breeding. A total of 257 female fig genotypes conserved in germplasm banks located in Spain, Turkey, and Tunisia were used. Over two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022), a total of 27 morphological, phenological, and pomological traits were assessed according to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptors for fig (TG265/1), with 23 phenotypic traits retained for statistical analyses. Linear mixed models were used to estimate marginal means and to partition genetic and environmental variance, while multivariate analyses and trait correlations were employed to explore the structure of phenotypic diversity. The germplasm exhibits remarkable variation in productive type, reproductive behaviour, harvesting date, and fruit quality traits. Harvesting date spans nearly three months. Fruit weight ranges from 11.7 to 134.5 g, total soluble solids from 9 to 39 °Brix, and maturation index values reached high levels, indicating pronounced sweetness during fruit ripening. Most genotypes showed high skin scratch resistance, absence of cracking at maturity, and medium or small ostiole size, highlighting the presence of ideotypes specifically suited for fresh market production. Heritability estimates indicate strong genetic control of key traits, such as fruit weight, fruit size, and total soluble solids, highlighting their suitability for selection in breeding programs. Stakeholder prioritisation further confirmed the relevance of fruit size, sweetness, firmness, and ostiole characteristics, helping to identify best genotypes for breeding and agronomic purposes. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of Mediterranean fig germplasm as a reservoir of valuable agronomic and commercial traits and provides a robust phenotypic framework to support future breeding, conservation, and cultivar selection strategies. Full article

The conservation of tuff- and coral rock-built architectural heritage structures (AHS) is challenging because access to original tuff and coral rock has become difficult and severely limited due to urbanization, land reclamation, the depletion of stone quarries, anti-mining and anti-quarrying legislation. An emerging approach to address this issue is to create compatible “replacement” rocks via geopolymerization, a process that is more sustainable and greener than the use of conventional cement and concrete. To explore the potential of geopolymers for AHS conservation strategies, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were implemented; 103 eligible articles were identified and classified into geopolymers for AHS (34 articles), tuff-built AHS (60 articles), and coral rock-built AHS (9 articles). Tuff substrates in AHSs appear in a variety of colors (yellowish-brown, grayish-cream, reddish-brown, pale greenish-gray and pink hues), densities (1.0–2.5 g/m³), and compressive strengths (3–100 MPa). Meanwhile, coral rock substrates in AHSs appear in whitish-cream color and are coarse-pored (1–5 MPa), fine-grained (8–15 MPa), and calcarenite (50–60 MPa). In terms of geopolymer formulation, metakaolin was reported as the most popular main precursor or admixture, while NaOH and Na₂SiO₃ were used simultaneously as alkaline activators. Aggregates used in geopolymer formulations depended on local availability, including quartz sand, river sand, crushed stones, carbonate stones, volcanic rock, volcanic sand, tuff, brick, ceramic tiles, and waste materials. Aesthetics, chemical composition, physical attributes, and mechanical properties have been identified as key criteria to ensure geopolymer compatibility for AHS conservation application. To date, geopolymers have been applied for AHS conservation as repair mortars, consolidants (i.e., grout and adhesives), and masonry strengthening (i.e., fiber-reinforced mortar). Finally, geopolymers formulated for AHS conservation have similar durability as the original substrate based on accelerated aging tests (i.e., salt mist, wet-dry, and freeze–thaw) and long-term outdoor exposure experiments. Full article

The present study undertakes a comparative investigation of the dialects of Thassos and Lesbos, systematically examining both shared and distinctive linguistic features across phonology, morphology, morphosyntax, and the lexicon. Based on primary ethnographic data and contemporary linguistic methodologies, the analysis demonstrates that, although the two varieties belong to the Northeastern Aegean dialectal continuum, they display both substantial similarities and significant divergences shaped by historical and sociolinguistic factors. These differences reflect the geopolitical position of each island: Thassos emerges as a more conservative enclave due to relative isolation, whereas Lesbos functions as a site of linguistic fusion shaped by sustained contact with Asia Minor populations. The study thus underscores the importance of comparative dialectology for understanding the dynamics of insular linguistic systems within the Northeastern Greek-speaking territory. Full article

The Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) comprises several coral ecosystems, which are distributed across a variety of coastal zones and oceanic islands. In these ecosystems, reef fish play key roles in their functioning. In ETP, there is a paucity of studies that have evaluated fish functional diversity (FD) and compared oceanic and coastal systems from a predominantly trophic perspective. A comparative analysis was conducted on fish FD in seven coral ecosystems, encompassing three distinct environmental contexts: (1) Oceanic, (2) Coastal-influenced, and (3) Coastal. The hypothesis that FD varies spatially along this oceanic–coastal gradient is predicated on the premise that such variation is attributable to differences in disturbance regimes and environmental conditions. Our results show that not all functional α-diversity indices exhibited significant variation among zones. However, analysis of functional dominance, divergence, dispersion, and β-diversity analyses revealed clear spatial variation in functional structure, partially supporting expectations related to disturbance regimes across the oceanic–coastal gradient. These patterns may be indicative of increasing disturbance intensity, in conjunction with other interacting processes such as variability in larval supply, recruitment dynamics, and environmental conditions, including fishing pressure, sedimentation, nutrient inputs, and coastal upwelling. The findings of this study demonstrate the efficacy of functional diversity metrics in assessing reef fish responses to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. In addition, the present study offers actionable insights with regard to the formulation of conservation and management strategies in the Mexican Eastern Tropical Pacific. Full article

This study evaluated morphological variation in 45 accessions of cultivated Perilla frutescens var. frutescens (PFF) and var. crispa (PFC) collected from South Korea and Japan, together with their weedy counterparts, var. frutescens (WPFF) and var. crispa (WPFC) from South Korea, using ten quantitative and ten qualitative traits. Clear morphological differentiation was observed between cultivated and weedy forms in both varieties, particularly in pigmentation, plant fragrance, and seed-related traits. PFF cultivars were characterized by predominantly green pigmentation, a typical frutescens aroma, and significantly larger and heavier seeds, suggesting stronger phenotypic differentiation in leaf and seed utilization. In contrast, PFC cultivars showed substantial morphological overlap with WPFC and WPFF accessions, indicating comparatively weaker phenotypic differentiation. Principal component analysis showed that the first principal component (PC1) explained 25.7% of the total phenotypic variance and was strongly associated with five quantitative traits (plant height, inflorescence length, floret number, seed size, and 100-seed weight) and five qualitative traits (adaxial and abaxial leaf color, flower color, seed color, and seed hardness). Along PC1, PFF cultivars formed a well-defined cluster, whereas PFC cultivars and the weedy WPFF and WPFC accessions exhibited broader dispersion, reflecting greater morphological variability. These results provide morphological insights into the differentiation between cultivated and weedy Perilla accessions and indicate potential domestication-related patterns. However, these interpretations are based primarily on morphological observations, and further genetic and evolutionary studies will be necessary to clarify the domestication history of these taxa. The identified trait complexes provide a useful phenotypic foundation for marker-assisted breeding, informed cultivar selection, and effective germplasm conservation and management. Full article

Education is one of the core roles of modern zoos, alongside research and conservation. In recent years, increasing emphasis has been placed on the importance of conservation within zoo education, and the term conservation education has become more widely used. Swedish zoos report using a variety of educational activities; however, systematic evaluations remain scarce. The aim of the present study was to analyse the content of species signage (n = 404) at 11 zoos in Sweden. A predetermined evaluation protocol was applied, including items related to conservation, animal biology, behaviour, ecology, and animal welfare, assessed using binary (“yes/no”) criteria. The signage analysis revealed that majority of signs provided basic species information, such as body size (88% of signs), lifespan (59%), geographical distribution (86%), diet (84%), and number of offspring (75%). In contrast, only 68% of signs included conservation status, 44% described specific threats, and just 17% provided information on actions visitors could take to support conservation. Information related to animal welfare was rare: 4% of signs mentioned enclosure design, 2% referred to enrichment, and only 1% included animal training. Overall, while Swedish zoos generally provided information on species ecology and, to some extent, conservation, guidance on how visitors could actively contribute to conservation was limited. Full article

Background: PYR/PYL/RCAR proteins are core abscisic acid (ABA) receptors that play essential roles in ABA signal transduction, plant growth and development, and abiotic stress responses. However, the PYL gene family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has not been systematically characterized, limiting our understanding of ABA-mediated stress adaptation in this economically important crop. Methods: A genome-wide analysis was performed to identify ClPYL genes in watermelon using a hidden Markov model search. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using the maximum likelihood method. Segmental duplication events were analyzed using synteny analysis. Conserved motifs, gene structures, and promoter cis-acting elements were characterized using MEME and PlantCARE. Expression profiles under drought, salt, and cold stresses were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) with three biological replicates. Results: In this study, 15 ClPYL genes were identified in watermelon through genome-wide analysis. Phylogenetic reconstruction classified these genes into four subfamilies, with subfamily II being exclusively present in cucurbits—a lineage-specific feature not observed in Arabidopsis. Synteny analysis revealed eight segmental duplication events involving members of subfamilies I, III, and IV, while subfamily II members were not associated with these duplications. Members within the same subfamily share similar exon-intron structures and conserved motifs. Promoter analysis revealed that ClPYL genes are enriched with various cis-acting elements associated with hormone signaling and abiotic stress responses. Expression profiling demonstrated that ClPYL genes exhibit diverse and dynamic expression patterns under drought, high-salinity, and cold stresses. Notably, genes such as ClPYL5 under drought, ClPYL02 under salt, and ClPYL15 under cold stress displayed persistent stress-responsive expression. Conclusions: These findings reveal the evolutionary conservation and diversification of the PYL family in watermelon and provide a set of candidate genes for functional studies aimed at dissecting ABA-mediated stress adaptation. This work establishes a genomic framework for developing stress-resilient watermelon varieties through molecular breeding. Full article

To establish standardized DNA fingerprinting and molecular identification systems for mandarin citrus, we analyzed 69 mandarin accessions via fluorescent SSR capillary electrophoresis to construct DNA molecular fingerprints and unique molecular identity cards. Eighteen highly polymorphic SSR primer pairs were screened, yielding 239 genotype calls and 147 alleles. The number of amplified alleles per primer pair ranged from 4 to 18, with polymorphic information content (PIC) values varying from 0.411 to 0.650. Ten core primer pairs were further selected, achieving a discrimination rate of 65.2% (45 out of 69 accessions distinguished). Utilizing these fluorescent SSR markers, we established DNA molecular fingerprints and unique molecular identity cards for all 69 accessions. Among them, 45 accessions possessed unique fingerprints, whereas the remaining 24 indistinguishable accessions were clustered into six groups. Each cluster contained both wild (4 accessions total) and cultivated (20 accessions total) resources with high genetic similarity, which merits further investigation. This study provides a practical foundation for the authentication, conservation, and genetic relationship analysis of mandarin germplasm resources and establishes a technical framework for standardizing mandarin variety identification. Full article

A central goal of carbon (C) management and a critical outcome of sustainable land stewardship is reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. Integrating GHG considerations into management can take many forms, but C credit markets are increasingly providing sources of private capital to offset the often high costs of stewardship. In Hawaiʻi, participation in voluntary C credit markets and the establishment of jurisdictional compliance C markets are constrained by a lack of institutional capacity, successful demonstrations, and high-quality data, making private capital for C market-based approaches in Hawaiʻi difficult to access. The State of Carbon in Hawaiʻi Hui (hui translates to partnership in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian language) convened landowners, researchers, federal and state government professionals, and for-profit and not-for-profit organization staff to better understand limitations to implementing C management in Hawaiʻi. This paper describes why the State of Carbon in Hawaiʻi Hui was formed, how we planned for, hosted, and assessed the success of a C-focused summit, and what outcomes resulted from this process. A Pathway Forward document, a decision support tool, and this article are outcomes. These products will serve as resources for those considering Hawaiʻi-based forest C projects, as well as contributing towards the legislated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Hawaiʻi. Our knowledge exchange process is readily replicable and can support a variety of efforts in environmental conservation and beyond. Full article

Blastomycosis-like pyoderma (BLP) is a rare chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by exuberant vegetative and verrucous plaques, most frequently associated with bacterial colonization, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. Owing to its striking clinical and histopathological resemblance to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and other granulomatous or hyperplastic dermatoses, BLP represents a well-recognized diagnostic pitfall, often leading to delayed diagnosis or unnecessary surgical management. We report an unusual case of bilateral auricular BLP in a 58-year-old apparently immunocompetent woman, initially misdiagnosed as SCC. Comprehensive clinicopathological reassessment revealed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, intraepidermal neutrophilic microabscesses, and a dense mixed inflammatory infiltrate, findings consistent with a reactive rather than neoplastic process. Microbiological cultures confirmed Staphylococcus aureus, supporting the final diagnosis of BLP and guiding effective antimicrobial therapy. To better contextualize this rare presentation, we reviewed all previously reported cases of BLP, summarizing available clinical, histopathological, microbiological, and therapeutic data. This case further raises the possibility of an association between BLP and systemic inflammatory conditions, as the patient subsequently developed severe colitis, highlighting the potential role of immune dysregulation and the gut–skin axis in disease pathogenesis or a possible temporal association, without allowing causal inference. Beyond inflammatory bowel disease, blastomycosis-like pyoderma has been reported in association with a variety of systemic and immune-mediated conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hematologic malignancies, HIV infection, chronic renal failure, autoimmune disorders, and prolonged immunosuppressive therapies. These associations support the concept that BLP represents a hyperinflammatory reaction pattern occurring in the setting of altered immune surveillance rather than a purely infectious disease. Accurate recognition and management of BLP require careful integration of clinical features, histological findings, and microbiological results. Increased awareness of its diverse presentations is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and to ensure appropriate, conservative treatment. Full article

Protein inhibitor of neuronal NO synthase (PIN) or dynein light chain 8 (LC8) is a highly conserved protein interacting with multiple partners, like neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) or myosin Va to modulate a variety of cellular functions. As PIN is expressed in skeletal muscle, our aim was to investigate a possible role of PIN in glucose uptake in L6 and primary muscle cells. PIN overexpression resulted into a decrease in glucose uptake with reduced GLUT4 expression and translocation at the plasma membrane, similarly to the pharmacological blockade of nNOS with L-NAME. PIN effect is mediated by a reduction in nNOS protein level and a direct interaction with nNOS leading to a reduced NO production in L6 myocytes. Surprisingly, a siRNA targeting PIN decreased glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation, suggesting the involvement of nNOS-independent effects. We therefore focused on myosin Va which interacts with PIN in L6 myocytes. Myosin Va silencing provoked a decrease in glucose uptake. As PIN siRNA also reduced myosin Va expression, this confirms the essential role of myosin Va in the observed effects of PIN silencing on glucose uptake. We conclude that PIN modulates glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation in rat muscle cells, through NO-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Full article

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth, and low nitrogen stress significantly restricts crop yield. Therefore, cultivating crop varieties that are tolerant to low nitrogen is crucial for agricultural production. The AT-hook motif nuclear localization protein (AHL) family is vital for plant stress resistance. To investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms of the AHL family in maize under low nitrogen stress, 35 ZmAHL genes were identified from the maize genome using bioinformatics methods. The results indicated that these genes encode proteins with lengths ranging from 203 to 573 amino acids, with relative molecular weights between 20.68 and 59.68 kDa, and they are unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes. Most proteins encoded by these genes are alkaline hydrophilic proteins, primarily localized in the nucleus. Family expansion occurred through tandem and fragment repeats, which exhibited evolutionary conservation with rice homologous genes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the majority of ZmAHL genes in drought-tolerant maize inbred lines were significantly up-regulated under drought and low nitrogen stress, with the ZmAHL10 gene displaying the most pronounced response to low nitrogen conditions. Experiments involving transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana further confirmed that the growth status, nitrogen uptake, and photosynthetic pigment content of ZmAHL10 overexpression strains under low nitrogen conditions were superior to those of the wild type, while the mutant exhibited significant growth inhibition. Overall, this study delineated the fundamental characteristics of the maize ZmAHL gene family and established that ZmAHL10 enhances low nitrogen tolerance in plants by improving nitrogen absorption capacity and maintaining the stability of the photosynthetic system. This research provides candidate genes and a theoretical foundation for the molecular breeding of maize with enhanced low nitrogen tolerance. Full article

Epigenetic diversity contributes to phenotypic plasticity and environmental responsiveness in Citrus spp. In this work, genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed in 49 accessions representing six Citrus species, hybrids, varieties, and cultivars from the Greek National Germplasm Collection. Substantial variation in global DNA methylation was detected, while the epigenetic diversity indices did not differ significantly among taxa. The highest values were observed in Citrus × aurantium var. sinensis (orange) varieties (P_epi = 77.33%, Na = 1.55, h = 0.14, I_epi = 0.24), whereas the lowest were recorded in Citrus × aurantifolia (lime) (P_epi = 18.67%, Na = 0.37, h = 0.09, I_epi = 0.13), reflecting potential methylation restructuring impacted by hybridization and selection. Epigenetic and genetic diversity were significantly different. Principal coordinate analyses (PCoA) of epigenetic data revealed limited concordance to taxonomy, except for unmethylated loci, the latter exhibiting similar data to genetic (SSR) results in which groups reflected the taxonomic genealogy. Epigenetic and genetic distances were uncoupled, and associations between epigenetic diversity (P_epi, h, I_epi) and traits directly or indirectly related to fitness (fruit weight, dry matter content, ascorbic acid concentration), were weak. These findings indicate that epigenetic diversity represents an independent layer of variation in Citrus germplasm with potential relevance for breeding, conservation and environmental resilience. Full article

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is recognized as a key transcription factor via regulating a variety of molecular responses to hypoxia, although the details are still unclear. In this study, based on bioinformatics analysis, the expression of the HIF-1α gene in T. castaneum (TcHIF-1α) under hypoxic treatments was determined. After TcHIF-1α knockdown by injecting dsRNA, larval mortality, the expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes, and enzymatic activities were measured; DNA damage was also evaluated through single cell gel electrophoresis. The result indicated that TcHIF-1α is highly conserved in structure. TcHIF-1α exhibited distinct temporal patterns, with a peak after 72 h of exposure to 2% O₂. Following TcHIF-1α knockdown, a significant increase in larval mortality (17.44 ± 5.91%) and moderate DNA damage level was found. This might be accompanied by ROS accumulation, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and suppression of antioxidant enzymatic activities. The expression of genes involved in ROS synthesis (e.g., NOX) was significantly upregulated, whereas genes responsible for mitigating oxidative stress (e.g., OGG1, XRCC1, PARP1, SOD1a) were markedly downregulated. These findings elucidate the critical role of HIF-1α in insect hypoxia adaptation by regulating the antioxidative stress, highlighting its potential as a promising target for developing novel pest control strategies. Full article