FUNDC1 regulates mitochondrial dynamics at the ER–mitochondrial contact site under hypoxic conditions

In hypoxic cells, dysfunctional mitochondria are selectively removed by a specialized autophagic process called mitophagy. The ER–mitochondrial contact site (MAM) is essential for fission of mitochondria prior to engulfment, and the outer mitochondrial membrane protein FUNDC1 interacts with LC3 to recruit autophagosomes, but the mechanisms integrating these processes are poorly understood. Here, we describe a new pathway mediating mitochondrial fission and subsequent mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. FUNDC1 accumulates at the MAM by associating with the ER membrane protein calnexin. As mitophagy proceeds, FUNDC1/calnexin association attenuates and the exposed cytosolic loop of FUNDC1 interacts with DRP1 instead. DRP1 is thereby recruited to the MAM, and mitochondrial fission then occurs. Knockdown of FUNDC1, DRP1, or calnexin prevents fission and mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. Thus, FUNDC1 integrates mitochondrial fission and mitophagy at the interface of the MAM by working in concert with DRP1 and calnexin under hypoxic conditions in mammalian cells.     

Phytophthora capsici homologue of the cell cycle regulator SDA1 is required for sporangial morphology,mycelial growth and plant infection

SDA1 encodes a highly conserved protein that is widely distributed in eukaryotic organisms. SDA1 is essential for cell cycle progression and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in yeasts and humans. In this study, we identified a Phytophthora capsici orthologue of yeast SDA1, named PcSDA1. In P. capsici, PcSDA1 is strongly expressed in three asexual developmental states (mycelium, sporangia and germinating cysts), as well as late in infection. Silencing or overexpression of PcSDA1 in P. capsici transformants affected the growth of hyphae and sporangiophores, sporangial development, cyst germination and zoospore release. Phalloidin staining confirmed that PcSDA1 is required for organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining and PcSDA1‐green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions revealed that PcSDA1 is involved in the regulation of nuclear distribution in hyphae and sporangia. Both silenced and overexpression transformants showed severely diminished virulence. Thus, our results suggest that PcSDA1 plays a similar role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and nuclear division in this filamentous organism as in non‐filamentous yeasts and human cells.     

Cochliomycin A inhibits the larval settlement of Amphibalanus amphitrite by activating the NO/cGMP pathway

Cochliomycin A is a compound with anti-barnacle settlement activity and low toxicity, but the molecular mechanism of the compound is unknown. Here, isobaric tags for the relative or absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling proteomic method were applied to analyze changes in the proteome of Amphibalanus（=Balanus） amphitrite cyprids in response to cochliomycin A treatment. Cochliomycin A affected the cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NO/cGMP pathways, among which the NO/cGMP pathway was considered to play a key role in barnacle larval settlement, while the cytochrome P450 and the GST pathways are mainly for detoxification. The results of real-time PCR further suggested the NO/cGMP pathway was activated in response to cochliomycin A. Larval settlement assays revealed that S-methylisothiourea sulfate (SMIS) and 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) rescued cyprids from cochliomycin A-induced inhibition of larval settlement. The findings supported the hypothesis that cochliomycin A inhibited barnacle larval settlement by stimulating the NO/cGMP pathway.     

红香芋试管球茎膨大过程中主要碳水化合物含量以及淀粉合成相关酶活性的动态研究

为了探讨芋(Colocasia esculenta(L.)Schott)试管球茎膨大期间糖类物质积累特点,以红香芋无菌试管苗为材料,研究了高浓度蔗糖诱导条件下,红香芋试管球茎形成及膨大过程中主要碳水化合物的变化规律,以及与相关酶活性的关系。结果表明:(1)在红香芋试管球茎膨大过程中,果糖、葡萄糖和总可溶性糖含量均呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,果糖含量在诱导至第27天时达到最大值,而总可溶性糖和葡萄糖含量均在第34天达到峰值;蔗糖含量呈现先上升、后下降、再上升的变化趋势,在培养第48天时积累量达到最大值。(2)红香芋试管球茎总淀粉含量、直链和支链淀粉含量均随培养时间的延长而增加,至膨大后期总淀粉含量达到最大值,淀粉总含量约占干重的76%,并以支链淀粉含量为主。(3)解剖学观察发现,随着试管球茎的形成与膨大,贮藏组织中淀粉粒密度不断增大,至球茎膨大后期,淀粉粒布满薄壁细胞,并且处于比较稳定的水平。(4)诱导培养至第41天时,试管球茎的ADPG焦磷酸化酶和Q-酶活性均达到最大值,分别为1.22和2.39μmol·g~(-1)·min~(-1)。相关性分析发现,从茎基部开始膨大(20d)至ADPG焦磷酸化酶和Q-酶活性达峰值(41d)时,ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性与总淀粉含量、Q-酶活性与支链淀粉含量的相关系数分别为0.819和0.738,二者均呈极显著正相关。研究认为,淀粉的积累以及可溶性糖类含量的变化与红香芋试管球茎的膨大发育密切相关,并受到相关酶的调控。