ABA-dependent amine oxidases-derived H2O2 affects stomata conductance

Recently we showed that ABA is at least partly responsible for the induction of the polyamine exodus pathway in Vitis vinifera plants. Both sensitive and tolerant plants employ this pathway to orchestrate stress responses, differing between stress adaptation and programmed cell death. Herein we show that ABA is an upstream signal for the induction of the polyamine catabolic pathway in Vitis vinifera. Thus, amine oxidases are producing H₂O₂ which signals stomata closure. Moreover, the previously proposed model for the polyamine catabolic pathway is updated and discussed.Key words: plant growth, abscissic acid, polyamines, amine oxidases, signaling, oxidative stress, programmed cell deathWe have shown that tobacco salinity induces an exodus of the polyamine (PA) spermidine (Spd) into the apoplast where it is oxidized by polyamine oxidase (PAO) generating hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Depending on the size of H₂O₂, it signals either tolerance-effector genes or the programmed cell death syndrome¹ (PCD). PAs are ubiquitous and biologically active molecules. In the recent years remarkable progress has been accomplished regarding the regulation of PAs biosynthesis and catalysis, not only under normal physiological but also under stress conditions.¹ The most studied PAs are the diamine Putrescine (Put) and its derivatives the triamine Spd and the tetramine spermine (Spm). They are present in the cells in soluble form (S), or conjugated either to low molecular weight compounds (soluble hydrolyzed form, SH) or to “macro” molecules or cell walls (pellet hydrolyzed form, PH). In higher plants, Put is synthesized either directly from ornithine via ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; EC 4.1.1.17) or indirectly from arginine via arginine decarboxylase (ADC; EC 4.1.1.19). Spd and Spm are synthesized via Spd synthase (EC 2.5.1.16, SPDS) and Spm synthase (EC 2.5.1.22, SPMS), respectively, by sequential addition of aminopropyl groups to Put, catalyzed by S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (SAMDC; EC 4.1.1.50).^2,3 In plants, PAs are present in the cytoplasm, as well as in cellular organelles.⁴ Recently it was shown that during stress, they are secreted into the apoplast where they are oxidized by amine oxidases (AOs), such as diamine oxidase for Put (DAO, E.C. 1.4.3.6) and polyamine oxidase (PAO, E.C. 1.4.3.4) for Spd and Spm.^1,5,6 Oxidation of PAs generates, amongst other products, H₂O₂^1,7,8 which is involved in cell signaling processes coordinated by abscissic acid (ABA),⁹ but also acts as efficient oxidant and, at high concentration, orchestrates the PCD syndrome.^6,10 Two types of PA catabolism by PAO are known in plants: the terminal and the back-conversion pathways. The terminal one takes place in the apoplast, produces except H₂O₂, 1,3-diaminopropane and an aldehyde depending on the species. On the other hand, the back-conversion pathway is intracellular (cytoplasm and peroxisomes) resulting to the production of H₂O₂ and the sequential production of Put by Spm via Spd.^1,7 Now we have shown that PA exodus also occurs in Vitis vinifera and this phenomenon is at least partially induced by abscissic acid (ABA).¹¹ Thus, exogenous application of ABA results to PA exodus into the apoplast of grapevine. PA is oxidized by an AO resulting to production of H₂O₂. When the titer of H₂O₂ is below a threshold, expression of tolerance-effector genes is induced, while when it exceeds this threshold the programmed cell death (PCD) syndrome is induced.     

Genome Analysis of the Anaerobic Thermohalophilic Bacterium Halothermothrix orenii

Halothermothirx orenii is a strictly anaerobic thermohalophilic bacterium isolated from sediment of a Tunisian salt lake. It belongs to the order Halanaerobiales in the phylum Firmicutes. The complete sequence revealed that the genome consists of one circular chromosome of 2578146 bps encoding 2451 predicted genes. This is the first genome sequence of an organism belonging to the Haloanaerobiales. Features of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria were identified with the presence of both a sporulating mechanism typical of Firmicutes and a characteristic Gram negative lipopolysaccharide being the most prominent. Protein sequence analyses and metabolic reconstruction reveal a unique combination of strategies for thermophilic and halophilic adaptation. H. orenii can serve as a model organism for the study of the evolution of the Gram negative phenotype as well as the adaptation under thermohalophilic conditions and the development of biotechnological applications under conditions that require high temperatures and high salt concentrations.     

Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis Persists in Aged Adults and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

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Seasonal variations of cellular stress response of the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

The present study aimed to investigate the seasonal cellular stress response in vital organs, like the heart, the liver, the whole blood and the skeletal (red and white) muscles of the Mediterranean fish Sparus aurata during a 1-year acclimatization period in the field, in two examined depths (0–2 m and 10–12 m). Processes studied included heat shock protein expression and protein kinase activation. Molecular responses were addressed through the expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90, the phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinases and particularly p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK-1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK1/2/3). The induction of Hsp70 and Hsp90 and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNKs and ERKs in the examined five tissues of the gilthead sea bream indicated a cellular stress response under the prism of a seasonal pattern which was characterized by distinct tissue specificity. Specifically, Hsp induction and MAPK activation occurred before peak summer water temperatures, with no further increases in their levels despite increases in water temperatures. Moreover, although water temperature did not vary significantly with depth of immersion, significant effects of depth on cellular stress response were observed, probably caused by different light regime. The expression and the activation of these certain proteins can be used as tools to define the extreme thermal limits of the gilthead sea bream.     

Biochemical and nutritional characterization of the medfly gut symbiont Enterobacter sp. AA26 for its use as probiotics in sterile insect technique applications

Background

Symbiotic bacteria contribute to a multitude of important biological functions such as nutrition and reproduction and affect multiple physiological factors like fitness and longevity in their insect hosts. The melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is an important agricultural pest that affects a variety of cultivated plants belonging mostly to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is considered invasive and widespread in many parts of the world. Several approaches are currently being considered for the management of its populations including the environmentally friendly and effective sterile insect technique (SIT), as a component of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. In the present study, we examined the effect of diet and radiation on the bacterial symbiome of Z. cucurbitae flies with the use of Next Generation Sequencing technologies.

Results

Melon flies were reared on two diets at the larval stage, an artificial bran-based diet and on sweet gourd, which affected significantly the development of the bacterial profiles. Significant differentiation was also observed based on gender. The effect of radiation was mostly diet dependent, with irradiated melon flies reared on the bran diet exhibiting a significant reduction in species diversity and richness compared to their non-irradiated controls. Changes in the bacterial symbiome of the irradiated melon flies included a drastic reduction in the number of sequences affiliated with members of Citrobacter, Raoultella, and Enterobacteriaceae. At the same time, an increase was observed for members of Enterobacter, Providencia and Morganella. Interestingly, the irradiated male melon flies reared on sweet gourd showed a clear differentiation compared to their non-irradiated controls, namely a significant reduction in species richness and minor differences in the relative abundance for members of Enterobacter and Providencia.

Conclusions

The two diets in conjunction with the irradiation affected significantly the formation of the bacterial symbiome. Melon flies reared on the bran-based artificial diet displayed significant changes in the bacterial symbiome upon irradiation, in all aspects, including species richness, diversity and composition. When reared on sweet gourd, significant changes occurred to male samples due to radiation, only in terms of species richness.

     

Complete genome sequence of Thermomonospora curvata type strain (B9)

Thermomonospora curvata Henssen 1957 is the type species of the genus Thermomonospora. This genus is of interest because members of this clade are sources of new antibiotics, enzymes, and products with pharmacological activity. In addition, members of this genus participate in the active degradation of cellulose. This is the first complete genome sequence of a member of the family Thermomonosporaceae. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 5,639,016 bp long genome with its 4,985 protein-coding and 76 RNA genes is a part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project.     

Spinal cord injury reveals multilineage differentiation of ependymal cells

Spinal cord injury often results in permanent functional impairment. Neural stem cells present in the adult spinal cord can be expanded in vitro and improve recovery when transplanted to the injured spinal cord, demonstrating the presence of cells that can promote regeneration but that normally fail to do so efficiently. Using genetic fate mapping, we show that close to all in vitro neural stem cell potential in the adult spinal cord resides within the population of ependymal cells lining the central canal. These cells are recruited by spinal cord injury and produce not only scar-forming glial cells, but also, to a lesser degree, oligodendrocytes. Modulating the fate of ependymal progeny after spinal cord injury may offer an alternative to cell transplantation for cell replacement therapies in spinal cord injury.