Protein circuit design using de novo proteins

Protein-based biological circuits enable customized control of cellular functions, and de novo protein design enables circuit functionalities that are not possible by repurposing natural proteins. Here, I highlight recent progress in protein circuit design, including CHOMP, developed by Gao et al., and SPOC, developed by Fink et al.     

Feeding the world sustainably: efficient nitrogen use

Globally, overuse of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in croplands is causing severe environmental pollution. In this context, Gu et al. suggest environmentally friendly and cost-effective N management practices and Hamani et al. highlight the use of microbial inoculants to improve crop yields, while reducing N-associated environmental pollution and N-fertilizer use.     

pH regulates peptide–receptor perception

Diverse plant small peptides are perceived by their corresponding receptors to mediate local or long-distance intercellular communications in various developmental and adaptive programs; notably, the mechanisms of peptide–receptor perception remain largely unrevealed. Two reports (Liu et al.; Diaz-Ardila et al.) shed light on how pH regulates peptide–receptor perception.     

Viral sponges sequester nucleotide signals to inactivate immunity

Bacteria synthesize specialized nucleotide signals to control anti-phage defense. Two papers – by Huiting et al. and Jenson et al. – now reveal that bacteriophages encode protein ‘sponges’ that sequester cyclic oligonucleotide immune signals and inactivate host antiviral immunity.     

Dual function of the CHS3-CSA1 immune receptor pair

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors mediate specific recognition of pathogen effectors to initiate effector-triggered immunity. Recently, studies by Schulze et al., Yang et al., and Gu et al. collectively show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NLR pair CHS3-CSA1 acts through two distinct activation modes to recognize different pathogen effectors, thus revealing the dual function of the CHS3-CSA1 pair in plant disease resistance.     

Membrane lipid composition defines membrane protein spectrum

In addition to glycerophospholipids, bacterial membranes often include amino acid-containing acyloxyacyl lipids. The functional implications of these aminolipids are largely unknown. However, a recent study by Stirrup et al. expands our understanding and shows that they are major determinants for membrane properties and the relative abundance of distinct membrane proteins in bacterial membranes.     

Mycoviral gene-incorporating phytopathogenic fungi: a biocontrol agent

Fungal pathogens cause devastating agroeconomic losses. Chemical fungicides are used to control fungal diseases, although this is not an ecofriendly approach. A recent study by Liu et al. highlighted the use of mycoviral gene-incorporating phytopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents for disease management.     

Fine-tuning germline mutation rates across evolution

The germline mutation rate (GMR) sets the pace at which mutations, the raw material of evolution, are introduced into the genome. By sequencing a dataset of unprecedently broad phylogenetic scope, Bergeron et al. estimated species-specific GMR, offering numerous insights into how this parameter shapes and is shaped by life-history traits.     

Pan-genome for pearl millet that beats the heat

A better understanding of crop genomes reveals that structural variations (SVs) are crucial for genetic improvement. A graph-based pan-genome by Yan et al. uncovered 424 085 genomic SVs and provided novel insights into heat tolerance of pearl millet. We discuss how these SVs can fast-track pearl millet breeding under harsh environments.     

Plants 'cry' for help through acoustic signals

Plants perceive sounds, while responses to these sounds were already known. A breakthrough is the discovery by Khait et al. that stressed plants emit various informative ultrasonic sound signals, which can be categorized according to plant species, stress type, and stress severity. This discovery may change how plants are cultivated.     

Actin subversion for productive Plasmodium hepatocyte invasion

Productive invasion of hepatocytes by Plasmodium sporozoites is a key step of infection. The parasites traverse hepatocytes before targeting one of them to form a parasitophorous vacuole for parasite expansion. Schepis et al. show the induction of membrane ruffling via host Rho GTPases by Plasmodium sporozoites facilitating productive invasion.     

Small but mighty: microexons in glucose homeostasis

Many molecular mechanisms underlying blood glucose homeostasis remain elusive. Juan-Mateu et al. find that pancreatic islet cells utilize a regulatory program, originally identified in neurons, that involves alternative splicing of microexons in genes important for insulin secretion or diabetes risk.     

Newly evolved genes in the human lineage are functional

Genes restricted to a given species or lineage are mysterious. Many emerged de novo from ancestral noncoding genomic regions rather than from pre-existing genes. A new study by Vakirlis and colleagues shows that, in humans, many of these are associated with phenotypic effects, accelerating our understanding of their functional importance.     

The most abundant mammals on Earth

New estimates of global mammal abundance that use relationships between traits, estimates of range size, and International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Red List categories to predict the biomass of thousands of species have been developed by Greenspoon et al. This approach and some of the challenges that contribute to these estimates are summarized here.     

Chemical constituents from Valeriana jatamansi

Phytochemical study of Valeriana jatamansi Jones afforded 45 compounds, including twenty-three iridoids (1–23), five sesquiterpenes (24–28), three steroids (29–31) and fourteen lignins (32–45). The structures of these compounds were assigned by detailed interpretation of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS) and comparisons with the published data. This is the first report of isolation of compounds (1–6, 10, 21, 25, 41, 43, 44, 45) from Valerianaceae, compounds (13, 27, 39) within the genus Valeriana and compound 30 from V. jatamans. The chemotaxonomic data can support the genus Valeriana being accepted as a member of transitional taxa between the family Valerianaceae and Caprifoliaceae.     

Conferring resistance to parasitic witchweed by shifting strigolactone biosynthesis

Strigolactones from the exudates of maize root induce germination of the parasitic witchweed Striga. Recently, Li et al. characterized the biosynthesis pathway of two strigolactones, zealactol and zealactonoic acid, which induce less Striga germination than the major maize strigolactone, zealactone. This study provides a promising strategy for plant protection against parasitic witchweed.     

miR172: a messenger between nodulation and flowering

Legumes coordinate nodulation and plant development to maximize reproductive success, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. A recent study by Yun et al. has revealed that nodulation drives root-to-shoot movement of microRNA172 (miR172) to accelerate flowering time, thus building a new bridge between nodulation and plant growth regulation.     

Osmosensing in plants: mystery unveiled

Osmotic stress limits plant growth and productivity. The downstream signaling components involved in osmotic adjustments are well known, but our knowledge of the perception of osmotic stress is far too limited. Wang et al. have recently identified a lesser-known mechanism of bimolecular condensation that underlies osmotic stress perception in plants.