A New Monoclonal Antibody Enables BAR Analysis of Subcellular Importin β1 Interactomes

Importin β1 (KPNB1) is a nucleocytoplasmic transport factor with critical roles in both cytoplasmic and nucleocytoplasmic transport, hence there is keen interest in the characterization of its subcellular interactomes. We found limited efficiency of BioID in the detection of importin complex cargos and therefore generated a highly specific and sensitive anti-KPNB1 monoclonal antibody to enable biotinylation by antibody recognition analysis of importin β1 interactomes. The monoclonal antibody recognizes an epitope comprising residues 301-320 of human KPBN1 and strikingly is highly specific for cytoplasmic KPNB1 in diverse applications, with little reaction with KPNB1 in the nucleus. Biotinylation by antibody recognition with this novel antibody revealed numerous new interactors of importin β1, expanding the KPNB1 interactome to cytoplasmic and signaling complexes that highlight potential new functions for the importins complex beyond nucleocytoplasmic transport. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD032728.     

Warming increases soil carbon input in a Sibiraea angustata-dominated alpine shrub ecosystem

Plant-derived carbon (C) inputs via foliar litter, root litter and root exudates are key drivers of soil organic C stocks. However, the responses of these three input pathways to climate warming have rarely been studied in alpine shrublands. By employing a 3-year warming experiment (increased by 1.3 °C), we investigated the effects of warming on the relative C contributions from foliar litter, root litter and root exudates from Sibiraea angustata, a dominant shrub species in an alpine shrubland on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The soil organic C inputs from foliar litter, root litter and root exudates were 77.45, 90.58 and 26.94 g C m⁻², respectively. Warming only slightly increased the soil organic C inputs from foliar litter and root litter by 8.04 and 11.13 g C m⁻², but significantly increased the root exudate C input by 15.40 g C m⁻². Warming significantly increased the relative C contributions of root exudates to total C inputs by 4.6% but slightly decreased those of foliar litter and root litter by 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Our results highlight that climate warming may stimulate plant-derived C inputs into soils mainly through root exudates rather than litter in alpine shrublands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.     

Rice G protein γ subunit qPE9-1 modulates root elongation for phosphorus uptake by involving 14-3-3 protein OsGF14b and plasma membrane H+-ATPase

Heterotrimeric G protein is involved in plant growth and development, while the role of rice (Oryza sativa) G protein γ subunit qPE9-1 in response to low-phosphorus (LP) conditions remains unclear. The gene expression of qPE9-1 was significantly induced in rice roots under LP conditions. Rice varieties carrying the qPE9-1 allele showed a stronger primary root response to LP than the varieties carrying the qpe9-1 allele (mutant of the qPE9-1 allele). Transgenic rice plants with the qPE9-1 allele had longer primary roots and higher P concentrations than those with the qpe9-1 allele under LP conditions. The plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase was important for the qPE9-1-mediated response to LP. Furthermore, OsGF14b, a 14-3-3 protein that acts as a key component in activating PM H⁺-ATPase for root elongation, is also involved in the qPE9-1 mediation. Moreover, the overexpression of OsGF14b in WYJ8 (carrying the qpe9-1 allele) partially increased primary root length under LP conditions. Experiments using R18 peptide (a 14-3-3 protein inhibitor) showed that qPE9-1 is important for primary root elongation and H⁺ efflux under LP conditions by involving the 14-3-3 protein. In addition, rhizosheath weight, total P content, and the rhizosheath soil Olsen-P concentration of qPE9-1 lines were higher than those of qpe9-1 lines under soil drying and LP conditions. These results suggest that the G protein γ subunit qPE9-1 in rice plants modulates root elongation for phosphorus uptake by involving the 14-3-3 protein OsGF14b and PM H⁺-ATPase, which is required for rice P use.     

Proteomic Analysis of Specific Proteins in the Root of Salt-Tolerant Barley

Comparative two-dimensional electrophoresis showed six proteins, which were significantly produced in the root of salt-tolerant barley. These proteins were identified as stress/defense-related proteins that do not scavenge reactive oxygen species directly, suggesting that salt-tolerant barley develops not only an antioxidative system, but also physical and biochemical changes to cope with salt stress.     

金塔绿洲不同林龄多枝柽柳根系分叉数与分支角度的关系

根系构型影响根系空间分布和营养吸收效率，反映了植物适应环境胁迫的生存策略。采用标准化主轴估计（Standardized major axis estimation，SMA）的方法，分析了甘肃金塔北海子国家湿地公园3年生和6年生多枝柽柳（Tamarix ramosissima）根系分叉数与分支角度的异速生长关系。结果表明：随着林龄的增长，湿地群落盖度、高度逐渐增加，多枝柽柳种群的盖度、密度、高度和地上生物量以及根系深度、分叉数、比根长、比表面积、各级根系直径随之增加，根系分支角度和根冠比逐渐减小；多枝柽柳根系分叉数与分支角度回归方程的标准主轴斜率逐渐增大（P<0.05），随着林龄的增长，多枝柽柳根系分叉数的增加速度逐渐大于根系分支角度的生长速度，二者在林龄间呈现出差异化的异速生长关系。随着林龄的增长，多枝柽柳根系构型模式由"扩散型"转变为"紧缩型"，体现了种群应对生境胁迫和竞争的生态适应机制。     

模拟根系分泌物输入对高寒退化草地土壤微生物残体的影响

微生物残体是稳定土壤碳库的重要来源，对退化生境碳的固持和积累具有重要意义。植物根系分泌物作为植物-土壤-微生物"交流"的媒介，是调控土壤微生物残体迁移转化的关键。因此，以极度退化草地土壤为对象，以氨基糖为标志物，模拟研究了不同氮浓度（低氮-LN：0.1 gN/kg；高氮-HN：0.2 gN/kg）和多样性（3种化合物、9种化合物）根系分泌物输入对土壤微生物残体的影响。结果表明：（1）根系分泌物输入可显著增加高寒退化草地土壤微生物残体含量，且主要由真菌残体贡献。其中高氮和低多样性处理增加最明显，微生物残体和真菌残体分别增加了101.14%，125.16%，而低氮和高多样性处理微生物残体和真菌残体仅增加了35.79%，33.51%。（2）根系分泌物的输入可增加土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶、土壤磷酸酶和过氧化物酶活性，促进微生物的生长，而降低β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶活性，减少微生物残体的分解。（3）回归分析结果显示，土壤微生物残体与土壤环境的C/N呈显著负相关，与微生物生物量C/N呈显著正相关。上述结果表明，在未来退化草地恢复中，可充分利用模拟根系分泌物输入的土壤固碳策略，即通过提高土壤氮的有效性，促进微生物的生长，加快代谢周转，进一步提高微生物残体含量。     

Choice of hydrogen uptake (Hup) status in legume‐rhizobia symbioses

The H₂ is an obligate by-product of N-fixation. Recycling of H₂ through uptake hydrogenase (Hup) inside the root nodules of leguminous plants is often considered an advantage for plants. However, many of the rhizobium-legume symbioses found in nature, especially those used in agriculture are shown to be Hup⁻, with the plants releasing H₂ produced by nitrogenase activity from root nodules into the surrounding rhizosphere. Recent studies have suggested that, H₂ induces plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which may explain the widespread of Hup⁻ symbioses in spite of the low energy efficiency of such associations. Wild legumes grown in Nova Scotia, Canada, were surveyed to determine if any plant-growth characteristics could give an indication of Hup choice in leguminous plants. Out of the plants sampled, two legumes, Securigera varia and Vicia cracca, showed Hup⁺ associations. Securigera varia exhibited robust root structure as compared with the other plants surveyed. Data from the literature and the results from this study suggested that plants with established root systems are more likely to form the energy-efficient Hup⁺ symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. Conversely, Hup⁻ associations could be beneficial to leguminous plants due to H₂-oxidizing plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria that allow plants to compete successfully, early in the growing season. However, some nodules from V. cracca tested Hup⁺, while others were Hup⁻. This was similar to that observed in Glycine max and Pisum sativum, giving reason to believe that Hup choice might be affected by various internal and environmental factors.     

Numerical taxonomy of fluorescent Pseudomonas associated with tomato roots

The phenetic taxonomy of 110 fluorescent bacterial strains, isolated from the roots of tomatoes and other plants was numerically studied through 97 features including 69 assimilation tests. Thirty-two reference strains of various Pseudomonas spp. were additionally included. The strains clustered into 16 clusters at the 74% similarity level when using Jaccard similarity coefficients. Almost all field strains belonged to the P. fluorescens/P. putida-complex while none clustered with P. syringae and allied bacteria. The biovar II branch, as well as the newly described biovar VI of P. fluorescens, made up 55% and 20% respectively, of the field strains; two % were allocated to P. fluorescens biovar I and three % to biovar IV. Eleven % of the root associated strains were designated P. putida; six strains were biovar A, three strains biovar B while four strains could not be referred to any known biovar. The continuum within the P. fluorescens/P. putida-complex as well as the taxonomic status of the six biovars of P. fluorescens and the three biovars of P. putida are discussed.     

Mechanisms and therapeutic targets for neuropathic itch

Neuropathic pruritus conditions arise from structural and/or functional damage of the peripheral or central nervous system. Novel findings of pruritus specific mediators and pathways strengthen the specificity theory of pruritus transmission, however electrophysiological studies suggest that focal activation of nociceptors and distinct discharge patterns of primary afferents also contribute to the development of the sensation of pruritus. A complex interplay between excitatory and inhibitory interneurons at spinal level, non-neuronal cells and descending modulation from upper centers contributes to neuronal sensitization and clinically to the chronicity of pruritus, as well as accompanying phenomena such as alloknesis and hyperknesis. Several topical, systemic and non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches directed at distinct targets are currently available.