Search Results (827)

The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors play a crucial role in plant development and stress resistance. Elucidating the structure and function of bHLH family members related to rubber tree powdery mildew (Erysiphe quercicola) is essential for breeding disease-resistant rubber tree varieties. In the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) variety CATAS73397, 204 HbbHLH transcription factors were systematically identified at the genome level and classified into 15 subfamilies through evolutionary analysis. The expansion of this family was primarily driven by whole-genome duplication (WGD). Based on RNA-seq data from leaves infected with powdery mildew, 11 HbbHLH genes responsive to infection were identified. Phylogenetic analysis examined the evolutionary relationships between rubber tree bHLH genes and disease-resistant bHLH genes from other plants. Promoter analysis of the 11 differentially expressed genes revealed abundant cis-elements associated with light responses, hormones, and transcription factor binding. Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction validation indicated that HbbHLH87 and HbbHLH162-2 were significantly downregulated during infection, whereas HbbHLH25 was significantly upregulated. These three genes exhibited strong responses to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments, suggesting their involvement in jasmonic acid and SA signal transduction pathways during the immune response. This study provides important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying disease resistance in rubber trees and identifies potential targets for breeding disease-resistant varieties. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endometrial cancer (EC), a malignancy arising from the uterine lining, is a leading gynecological cancer in developed countries. Syringic acid (SA), a naturally occurring phenolic compound, possesses various bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemoprotective, and anti-angiogenic properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SA on the proliferation and migration of RL95-2 EC cells, its protective role in normal endometrial stromal cells (HESCs), and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the potential synergistic anticancer effects of SA in combination with chemotherapeutic agents against EC were evaluated. Methods: Cell viability was assessed using nuclear fluorescence staining, the MTT assay, and clonogenic survival assay. Cell migration was evaluated through wound closure and Transwell migration assays. Gene expression levels were analyzed by the RT-PCR method. Results: SA significantly inhibited the proliferation of RL95-2 EC cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 27.22 μM. Co-treatment with SA and the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (Dox) demonstrated an additive inhibitory effect. Mechanistically, both SA and the SA-Dox combination induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of caspases-3, -8, and -9, increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Bad), and downregulating anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-XL and Bcl-2). Cell cycle analysis revealed the downregulation of cyclin D and the upregulation of tumor suppressors p21 and p27, contributing to growth arrest. In addition, both SA and the combination treatment effectively suppressed cell migration by downregulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and β-catenin. SA treatment also induced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and activated NF-κB signaling, leading to an elevated expression of inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 and iNOS. Furthermore, SA promoted oxidative stress in RL95-2 cells by inhibiting the Nrf2 pathway and reducing the expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, thereby enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. In contrast, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HESC cells, SA attenuated inflammation and ROS generation, indicating its selective cytoprotective role in normal endometrial cells. Conclusions: SA may serve as a promising adjuvant candidate to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy while protecting normal cells by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress. Full article

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC) plays a significant role in plant hormone signal transduction. In this study, we observed that TuMV infection markedly upregulates UBC mRNA expression, suggesting a close association between UBC and viral infection. Using Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to downregulate UBC expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, we found that UBC-silenced plants exhibited enhanced susceptibility to TuMV compared with control plants. Conversely, transient overexpression of UBC protein suppressed viral propagation. Further analysis by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed a substantial downregulation in the expression of SA and JA biosynthetic genes in UBC-silenced plants. Accordingly, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) confirmed a marked decrease in the accumulation of the corresponding hormones. Exogenous application of SA or JA partially restored antiviral resistance in UBC-silenced plants, indicating that hormonal deficiency contributes to enhanced viral susceptibility. Collectively, our results demonstrate that UBC positively regulates SA and JA biosynthesis. UBC silencing impairs both SA- and JA-mediated defense pathways, thereby facilitating viral infection in N. benthamiana. Full article

Cucumis sativus L. is a globally important vegetable crop that occupies a significant position in protected agriculture due to its high nutritional value, short cultivation cycle, and considerable economic benefits. As a cold-sensitive plant, however, cucumber is highly susceptible to low-temperature stress. which can severely inhibit growth and development, hinder seed germination, and reduce photosynthetic efficiency. Under low-temperature stress, cucumber plants typically incur damage to cellular membrane structures, experience an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), exhibit a disruption in hormonal homeostasis, and suffer from the inhibition of pivotal metabolic pathways. In response, cucumber plants activate an array of resistance mechanisms, encompassing osmotic adjustment, reinforcement of the antioxidant system, and modulation of cold-responsive gene expression. This review summarizes the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying cucumber’s response to low-temperature stress, aiming to provide effective strategies for improving abiotic stress resistance. The main findings are as follows: (1) Low-temperature stress damages cucumber cell membranes, suppresses photosynthesis and respiration, suppresses water and nutrient uptake/transport, and suppresses growth retardation. (2) Cucumber counters these adverse effects by orchestrating the accumulation of osmoregulators (e.g., soluble sugars, proline), activating activation defenses (e.g., SOD, CAT), and rebalancing its phytohormone network (e.g., ABA, GA, SA, ethylene). (3) At the molecular level, cucumber activates low-temperature-responsive genes (e.g., COR, GoIS) through transcription factors such as CBF, MYB, and WRKY, thereby enhancing cold tolerance. (4) Application of exogenous protectants (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, melatonin, oligosaccharides) significantly improves cucumber’s low-temperature tolerance by modulating the antioxidant system, promoting osmoregulatory substances accumulation, and regulating hormone signaling pathways. Future research should focus on elucidating the molecular regulatory network in cucumber under low-temperature stress and developing gene editing with multi-omics techniques to advance the development of cold-resistant cultivars and cultivation practices. This study offers a scientific foundation for research on cucumber cold tolerance and proposes potential solutions to agricultural challenges in the context of global climate change. Full article

Capsicum annuum (pepper) is a globally significant Solanaceous crop vulnerable to devastating pathogens such as Phytophthora capsici. Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLRs) proteins are crucial intracellular immune receptors mediating effector-triggered immunity (ETI). This study presents the comprehensive genome-wide identification and analysis of the NLR gene family in pepper using the high-quality ‘Zhangshugang’ reference genome. We identified 288 high-confidence canonical NLR genes. Chromosomal distribution analysis showed significant clustering, particularly near telomeric regions, with Chr09 harboring the highest density (63 NLRs). Evolutionary analysis demonstrated that tandem duplication is the primary driver of NLR family expansion, accounting for 18.4% of NLR genes (53/288), predominantly on Chr08 and Chr09. Analysis of promoter cis-regulatory elements (CREs) revealed enrichment in defense-related motifs, with 82.6% of promoters (238 genes) containing binding sites for salicylic acid (SA) and/or jasmonic acid (JA) signaling. Transcriptome profiling of Phytophthora capsici-infected resistant (C. annuum cv. CM334) and susceptible (C. annuum cv. NMCA10399) cultivars identified 44 significantly differentially expressed NLR genes, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis predicted key interactions among them, with Caz01g22900 and Caz09g03820 as potential hubs. This study elucidates the tandem-duplication-driven expansion, domain-specific functional implications, and expression dynamics of the pepper NLR family. It identifies conserved and lineage-specific candidate NLR genes, including Caz03g40070, Caz09g03770, Caz10g20900, and Caz10g21150. These findings provide valuable candidate gene targets for the development of molecular markers for pepper resistance to Phytophthora capsici. Full article

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is a vital cereal and feed crop grown worldwide, but its production is increasingly threatened by barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and aphid infestations in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in northern China. This study explores the transcriptomic and physiological responses of two oat cultivars MN10253 (resistant) and Qingyin 1 (susceptible) to BYDV at 0, 2, 8, 24, and 48 h post-infection. A combination of phytohormone profiling, differential gene expression analysis, and pathway enrichment was employed to identify mechanisms underpinning disease resistance. Comparative time-course transcriptome analysis revealed 9285 and 8904 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MN10253 and Qingyin 1, respectively. Key pathways such as MAPK signaling, plant–pathogen interaction, and hormone signal transduction were significantly enriched. The resistant cultivar exhibited robust activation of pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity pathways, marked by upregulation of genes like RPS2, HSP90, and WRKY33, alongside higher expression of salicylic acid (SA)-responsive genes, such as NPR1 and PAL. Conversely, the susceptible cultivar displayed weaker or delayed activation of these defense pathways. Hormonal analysis further demonstrated higher SA accumulation in MN10253 during early infection, correlating with enhanced defense responses. In contrast, Qingyin 1 showed elevated levels of auxin and abscisic acid, which are linked to suppressed immunity. This study underscores the central role of immunity responses and phytohormone pathways in mediating oat resistance to BYDV, highlighting the tradeoff between growth and defense modulated by hormonal crosstalk. These findings advance our understanding of host–pathogen dynamics in oats and provide valuable insights for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Full article

Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are major pregnancy complications that are linked to placental dysfunction and environmental stimulation such as the use of electronic cigarettes (eCig). This study investigates the molecular impacts of timed eCig exposure in a C57BL/6 mouse model of PE and IUGR using bulk RNA-sequencing of placental tissues. Pregnant mice were exposed to eCig vapor via nose-only system starting at embryonic day 12.5 (eCig-6d, before spiral artery (SA) invasion) or 14.5 (eCig-4d, after SA invasion) until E18.5 (necropsy), with healthy controls exposed to room air (n = 6/group). The eCig-4d group developed PE, whereas the eCig-6d group developed both PE and IUGR. RNA-seq analysis revealed 429 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in eCig-4d (IUGR-like) group and 64 DEGs in eCig-6d (PE + IUGR-like) group compared to controls. Pathway and gene network analyses indicated that eCig-4d exposure activated NF-κB–driven inflammation, suppressed ECM organization and collagen biosynthesis, and downregulated vasoactive genes/mitochondrial-associated genes (NOS1/2), accompanied by impaired complement initiation and reduced both macrophage and monocyte signals. Similarly, eCig-6d exposure led to downregulation of complement-associated genes and granule-related components, possibly implicating weakened neutrophil responsiveness and compromised inflammatory resolution at the maternal–fetal interface. Our findings align with prior studies on physiological dysfunctions in PE and IUGR, while also providing novel insights into the temporally specific cellular responses induced by eCig exposure. Full article

Notonectidae belongs to the infraorder Nepomorpha within the order Hemiptera. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological types and arrangement of leg sensilla in Anisops, Enithares and Notonecta. A variety of sensilla are distributed on the legs. These sensilla are responsible for receiving signals from the external environment. Mechanoreceptors exhibit the highest diversity. Using a scanning electron microscope, ten types of sensilla were identified on the legs of seventeen species from Notonectidae. Basic types of mechanoreceptors, including sensilla trichodea (ST1, ST2), sensilla chaetica (SCh1, SCh2), sensilla basiconica (SB2) and sensilla campaniformia (SCa), were distributed across all the studied species. In Anisops, sensilla arch-shaped (SAr) and sensilla spoon-shaped (SSp) were reported for the first time. Additionally, six subtypes of ST were distinguished in Anisops, among which ST3, ST4, ST5 and ST6 are unique. In Enithares and Notonecta, sensilla styloconica (SS) were observed; these sensilla are hypothesized to function as both mechanoreceptors and gustatory receptors. Beyond mechanoreceptors, we also identified thermo-hygroreceptors—sensilla ampullacea (SA) and sensilla coeloconica (SCo)—as well as a potential olfactory sensilla type, namely, sensilla placodea multilobated (SPM). These findings suggest that Notonectidae leg sensilla play an important role in the perception of aquatic environments and prey localization. Full article

Bacterial wilt is a highly destructive disease affecting a wide range of crops, with no effective chemical control methods currently available. Consequently, the development of microbial strategies for disease management has become increasingly important. Among these, plant immunity-intensifying microbes have demonstrated promising efficacy in controlling bacterial wilt. However, the influence of environmental factors, particularly light intensity, on the effectiveness of these microbes remains unclear. Light intensity is a critical regulator of the photosynthetic system and plant biochemical functions, including defense responses. In this study, we specifically utilized Arabidopsis plants grown under distinct light intensities to systematically examine how light conditions affect the induction of plant immune responses and the occurrence of bacterial wilt. Our findings revealed that Arabidopsis grown under high light intensity exhibited significantly stronger immune responses and reduced disease severity, compared to plants grown under low light intensity. Further, application of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PMB05, a plant immunity-intensifying strain, resulted in more pronounced immune signaling and disease control efficacy under high light conditions. Experiments using salicylic acid (SA)-deficient mutants demonstrated that disruption of the SA pathway abolished the enhanced suppression of bacterial wilt conferred by B. amyloliquefaciens PMB05 under high light intensity, indicating that the SA pathway is indispensable for PMB05-mediated disease resistance. Moreover, the validation experiments in tomato plants supported these results, with B. amyloliquefaciens PMB05 significantly reducing bacterial wilt development under high light intensity. Collectively, our study demonstrates that growing plants under varying light intensities provides critical insights into how environmental conditions modulate the effectiveness of plant immunity-intensifying microbes, offering a potential strategy for integrated disease management in crops. Full article

Wind power forecasting remains a major challenge for renewable energy integration, as conventional models often perform poorly when confronted with complex atmospheric dynamics. This study addresses the problem by developing a Spectral-Attentive Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network (SA-STGCN) designed to capture the intricate temporal and spatial dependencies of wind systems. The approach first applies wavelet transform decomposition to separate volatile wind signals into distinct frequency components, enabling more interpretable representation of rapidly changing conditions. A dynamic temporal attention mechanism is then employed to adaptively identify historical patterns that are most relevant for prediction, moving beyond the fixed temporal windows used in many existing methods. In addition, spectral graph convolution is conducted in the frequency domain to capture farm-wide spatial correlations, thereby modeling long-range atmospheric interactions that conventional localized methods overlook. Although this design increases computational complexity, it proves critical for representing wind variability. Evaluation on real-world datasets demonstrates that SA-STGCN achieves substantial accuracy improvements, with a mean absolute error of 1.52 and a root mean square error of 2.31. These results suggest that embracing more expressive architectures can yield reliable forecasting performance, supporting the stable integration of wind power into modern energy systems. Full article

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor limiting crop productivity worldwide, as it disrupts plant growth, metabolism, and survival. In this study, we report that the genes PvPR10-2 and PvPR10-3 were significantly up-regulated in bean leaves and stems in response to combined salt and jasmonic acid (NaCl–JA) treatment. Foliar application of JA with salt induced physiological alterations, including stem growth inhibition, H₂O₂ accumulation, and activation of antioxidant enzymes. To investigate the role of PvPR10-3 in response to salt and phytohormones, we introduced this gene into Arabidopsis and found that its heterologous expression conferred salt tolerance to the transgenic lines. Interestingly, exogenous JA contributed to salt tolerance by reducing H₂O₂ levels, inducing ROS-scavenging enzymes, and promoting the accumulation of phenolic compounds and ABA. Furthermore, gene expression analysis of the transgenic lines revealed that PvPR10-3 expression under NaCl–JA stress is associated with the induction of JA-related genes like MYC2, JAZ2, JAZ11, and JAZ12, as well as SA-responsive genes, like ALD1 and TGA2, and two ABA-independent components DREB2A and ERD1, suggesting potential coordination between JA, ABA, and SA signaling in salt stress response. Additionally, key flowering regulators (FT, GI) were upregulated in transgenic lines under NaCl–JA treatment, suggesting a previously unexplored link between salt tolerance pathways and the regulation of flowering time. Taken together, our findings suggest a role of PvPR10-3 in enhancing salt stress tolerance and the involvement of exogenous JA in tolerance potentially by modulating ROS balance, hormone-associated gene expression, and protective secondary metabolites. Full article

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are key Ca²⁺ sensors in plants, mediating responses to abiotic stresses via phosphorylation signaling. In the halophyte Nitraria sibirica, which thrives in saline soils, we identified 19 CDPK genes (NsCDPKs) and classified them into four canonical angiosperm clades, highlighting conserved functional modules. Promoter analysis revealed diverse cis-acting elements responsive to light, hormones (ABA, MeJA, auxin, GA, SA), and abiotic stresses (drought, cold, wounding), along with numerous MYB binding sites, suggesting complex transcriptional regulation. Transcriptome profiling under salt stress (100 and 400 mM NaCl) showed induction of most NsCDPKs, with several genes significantly upregulated in roots and stems, indicating coordinated whole-plant activation. These salt-responsive NsCDPKs were also upregulated by cold but repressed under PEG-simulated drought, indicating stress-specific regulatory patterns. Fifteen MYB transcription factors, differentially expressed under salt stress, were predicted to interact with NsCDPK promoters, implicating them as upstream regulators. This study identified a potential salt- and cold-responsive CDPK regulatory module and a MYB-mediated transcriptional hierarchy in N. sibirica, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of salinity adaptation and highlighting candidate genes that could be explored for improving salt tolerance in crop species. Full article

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential regulators of plant development and stress responses, but the distinct contributions of BR biosynthesis and signaling to hormonal crosstalk remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated the effects of the BR biosynthesis inhibitor brassinazole (BRZ) and the BR-insensitive mutant bri1-6 on endogenous phytohormone profiles in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using multivariate analysis and targeted hormone quantification, we show that BRZ treatment and BRI1 disruption alter hormone balance through partially overlapping but mechanistically distinct pathways. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering revealed that BRZ and the bri1-6 mutation do not phenocopy each other and that BRZ still alters hormone profiles even in the bri1-6 mutant, suggesting potential BRI1-independent effects. Both BRZ treatment and the bri1-6 mutation tend to influence cytokinins and auxin conjugates divergently. On the contrary, their effects on stress-related hormones converge: BRZ decreases salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) in the WT leaves; similarly, bri1-6 mutants show reduced SA, JA, and ABA. These results indicate that BR biosynthesis and BRI1-mediated perception may contribute independently to hormonal reprogramming, with BRZ eliciting additional effects, possibly via metabolic feedback, compensatory signaling, or off-target action. Hormone correlation analyses revealed conserved co-regulation clusters that reflect underlying regulatory modules. Altogether, our findings provide evidence for a partial uncoupling of BR levels and BR signaling and illustrate how BR pathways intersect with broader hormone networks to coordinate growth and stress responses. Full article

This study investigated the mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on senescent human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) through transcriptome sequencing. HSYA treatment identified 2377 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that these DEGs were primarily enriched in cell adhesion regulation and the extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interaction pathway. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis corroborated the central role of ECM–receptor interaction signaling, and Key Driver Analysis (KDA) revealed 10 core regulatory genes (e.g., ID1, SMAD3, TGFB3). SA-β-gal staining showed that HSYA significantly reduced senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. Flow cytometry showed no significant changes in cell cycle distribution. Western blot analysis indicated that HSYA treatment reduced the protein expression level of p16 without significantly altering p53 levels. Furthermore, HSYA significantly attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. qPCR validation demonstrated that HSYA significantly upregulated ID1, GDF5, SMAD3, and TGFB3 while downregulating BMP4, TGFB2, and CCN2. These findings indicate that HSYA modulates genes associated with the ECM–receptor interaction pathway, potentially contributing to improved ECM homeostasis in senescent hUC-MSCs. Full article

Porcine rotavirus (PoRV) is one of the most devastating enteric pathogens causing gastroenteritis in pigs, particularly the sudden occurrence in recent years in China. To elucidate host–pathogen interactions and molecular mechanisms underlying PoRV pathogenesis, four-dimensional (4D) data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomic (4D-DIA) analysis was performed to comprehensively quantify the differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in PoRV-infected IPEC-J2 cells. A total of 8725 cellular proteins were identified with 279 more abundant and 356 down abundant proteins. A Western blot showed that the abundance of SA100A8, DAPK2, and FTL were in accordance with the acquired proteomic data using 4D-DIA analysis. Bioinformatics analyses of GO and KEGG demonstrated that various DAPs are involved in crucial biological processes and signaling pathways, such as immune response, signal transduction, metabolic pathways, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, inflammatory features of host response upon PoRV infection were highlighted, with RT-qPCR confirming the significant upregulation of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, STAT1, and IRF9 transcript levels during infection. Altogether, our preliminary findings advance our understanding of PoRV pathogenesis and may shed light on identifying potential targets for the prevention and control of PoRV-associated gastroenteritis. Full article