Editorial

3 pages, 177 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

by Tatyana Savchenko and Andrej Frolov

Life 2021, 11(9), 946; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11090946 - 10 Sep 2021

Viewed by 1494

According to multiple definitions of life, metabolism is an indispensable characteristic of living organisms [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

Research

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15 pages, 2925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rice Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Nitrogen Starvation Modulates Differential Alternative Splicing and Transcript Usage in Various Metabolism-Related Genes

by Saurabh Chaudhary and Meenu Kalkal

Life 2021, 11(4), 285; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11040285 - 27 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2901

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is crucial for plant growth and development; however, excessive use of N fertilizers cause many problems including environmental damage, degradation of soil fertility, and high cost to the farmers. Therefore, immediate implementation is required to develop N efficient crop varieties. Rice [...] Read more.

Nitrogen (N) is crucial for plant growth and development; however, excessive use of N fertilizers cause many problems including environmental damage, degradation of soil fertility, and high cost to the farmers. Therefore, immediate implementation is required to develop N efficient crop varieties. Rice being low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and a high demand staple food across the world has become a favorite crop to study the NUE trait. In the current study, we used the publicly available transcriptome data generated from the root and shoot tissues of two rice genotypes IR-64 and Nagina-22 (N-22) under optimum N supply (N⁺) and chronic N-starvation (N⁻). A stringent pipeline was applied to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs), alternatively spliced (DAS) genes, differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) and differential transcript usage (DTU) transcripts in both the varieties and tissues under N⁺ and N⁻ conditions. The DAS genes and DTU transcripts identified in the study were found to be involved in several metabolic and biosynthesis processes. We suggest alternative splicing (AS) plays an important role in fine-tuning the regulation of metabolic pathways related genes in genotype, tissue, and condition-dependent manner. The current study will help in understanding the transcriptional dynamics of NUE traits in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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14 pages, 1179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Acetaminophen (APAP) on Physiological Indicators in Lactuca sativa

by Jiri Kudrna, Frantisek Hnilicka, Jan Kubes, Pavla Vachova, Helena Hnilickova and Margita Kuklova

Life 2020, 10(11), 303; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life10110303 - 23 Nov 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4263

Abstract

This study analyzes the effects of acetaminophen (APAP) as a contaminant on physiological characteristics of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.). Experiments were provided in an experimental greenhouse with semi-controlled conditions. The effect of different amounts of contaminant was evaluated by using regression [...] Read more.

This study analyzes the effects of acetaminophen (APAP) as a contaminant on physiological characteristics of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.). Experiments were provided in an experimental greenhouse with semi-controlled conditions. The effect of different amounts of contaminant was evaluated by using regression analysis. Plants were grown in five concentrations of APAP: 0 µM, 5 µM, 50 µM, 500 µM, and 5 mM for 14 days in two variants, acute and chronic. The obtained results show that the monitored parameters were demonstrably influenced by the experimental variant. Plants are more sensitive to chronic contamination compared to acute. Significant (p < 0.05) deviation in photosynthesis and fluorescence was observed compared to the control in different variants. The highest doses of APAP reduced the intensity of photosynthesis by a maximum of more than 31% compared to the control. A reduction of 18% was observed for the fluorescence parameters. Pronounced correlation was described between chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield mainly under APAP conditions. The amount of chlorophyll was influenced by exposure to APAP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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16 pages, 4016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diacylglycerol Acetyltransferase Gene Isolated from Euonymus europaeus L. Altered Lipid Metabolism in Transgenic Plant towards the Production of Acetylated Triacylglycerols

by Daniel Mihálik, Andrea Lančaričová, Michaela Mrkvová, Šarlota Kaňuková, Jana Moravčíková, Miroslav Glasa, Zdeno Šubr, Lukáš Predajňa, Richard Hančinský, Simona Grešíková, Michaela Havrlentová, Pavol Hauptvogel and Ján Kraic

Life 2020, 10(9), 205; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life10090205 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

Euonymus species from the Celastraceae family are considered as a source of unusual genes modifying the oil content and fatty acid composition of vegetable oils. Due to the possession of genes encoding enzyme diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (DAcT), Euonymus plants can synthesize and accumulate acetylated [...] Read more.

Euonymus species from the Celastraceae family are considered as a source of unusual genes modifying the oil content and fatty acid composition of vegetable oils. Due to the possession of genes encoding enzyme diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (DAcT), Euonymus plants can synthesize and accumulate acetylated triacyglycerols. The gene from Euonymus europaeus (EeDAcT) encoding the DAcT was identified, isolated, characterized, and modified for cloning and genetic transformation of plants. This gene has a unique nucleotide sequence and amino acid composition, different from orthologous genes from other Euonymus species. Nucleotide sequence of original EeDAcT gene was modified, cloned into transformation vector, and introduced into tobacco plants. Overexpression of EeDAcT gene was confirmed, and transgenic host plants produced and accumulated acetylated triacylglycerols (TAGs) in immature seeds. Individual transgenic plants showed difference in amounts of synthesized acetylTAGs and also in fatty acid composition of acetylTAGs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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21 pages, 3002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenolipids in Cultured Picocystis Strain ML and Their Occurrence in Biota and Sediment from Mono Lake, California

by Ronald A. Glabonjat, Jodi S. Blum, Laurence G. Miller, Samuel M. Webb, John F. Stolz, Kevin A. Francesconi and Ronald S. Oremland

Life 2020, 10(6), 93; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life10060093 - 24 Jun 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2824

Abstract

Primary production in Mono Lake, a hypersaline soda lake rich in dissolved inorganic arsenic, is dominated by Picocystis strain ML. We set out to determine if this photoautotrophic picoplankter could metabolize inorganic arsenic and in doing so form unusual arsenolipids (e.g., arsenic bound [...] Read more.

Primary production in Mono Lake, a hypersaline soda lake rich in dissolved inorganic arsenic, is dominated by Picocystis strain ML. We set out to determine if this photoautotrophic picoplankter could metabolize inorganic arsenic and in doing so form unusual arsenolipids (e.g., arsenic bound to 2-O-methyl ribosides) as reported in other saline ecosystems and by halophilic algae. We cultivated Picocystis strain ML on a seawater-based medium with either low (37 µM) or high (1000 µM) phosphate in the presence of arsenite (400 µM), arsenate (800 µM), or without arsenic additions (ca 0.025 µM). Cultivars formed a variety of organoarsenic compounds, including a phytyl 2-O-methyl arsenosugar, depending upon the cultivation conditions and arsenic exposure. When the cells were grown at low P, the organoarsenicals they produced when exposed to both arsenite and arsenate were primarily arsenolipids (~88%) with only a modest content of water-soluble organoarsenic compounds (e.g., arsenosugars). When grown at high P, sequestration shifted to primarily water-soluble, simple methylated arsenicals such as dimethylarsinate; arsenolipids still constituted ~32% of organoarsenic incorporated into cells exposed to arsenate but < 1% when exposed to arsenite. Curiously, Picocystis strain ML grown at low P and exposed to arsenate sequestered huge amounts of arsenic into the cells accounting for 13.3% of the dry biomass; cells grown at low P and arsenite exposure sequestered much lower amounts, equivalent to 0.35% of dry biomass. Extraction of a resistant phase with trifluoroacetate recovered most of the sequestered arsenic in the form of arsenate. Uptake of arsenate into low P-cultivated cells was confirmed by X-ray fluorescence, while XANES/EXAFS spectra indicated the sequestered arsenic was retained as an inorganic iron precipitate, similar to scorodite, rather than as an As-containing macromolecule. Samples from Mono Lake demonstrated the presence of a wide variety of organoarsenic compounds, including arsenosugar phospholipids, most prevalent in zooplankton (Artemia) and phytoplankton samples, with much lower amounts detected in the bottom sediments. These observations suggest a trophic transfer of organoarsenicals from the phytoplankton (Picocystis) to the zooplankton (Artemia) community, with efficient bacterial mineralization of any lysis-released organoarsenicals back to inorganic oxyanions before they sink to the sediments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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Review

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37 pages, 5057 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

TCA Cycle Replenishing Pathways in Photosynthetic Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria Growing with Acetate

by Ekaterina Petushkova, Ekaterina Mayorova and Anatoly Tsygankov

Life 2021, 11(7), 711; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11070711 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 8358

Abstract

Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria harnessing simple organic acids as electron donors. PNSB produce a-aminolevulinic acid, polyhydroxyalcanoates, bacteriochlorophylls a and b, ubiquinones, and other valuable compounds. They are highly promising producers of molecular hydrogen. PNSB can be cultivated [...] Read more.

Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria harnessing simple organic acids as electron donors. PNSB produce a-aminolevulinic acid, polyhydroxyalcanoates, bacteriochlorophylls a and b, ubiquinones, and other valuable compounds. They are highly promising producers of molecular hydrogen. PNSB can be cultivated in organic waste waters, such as wastes after fermentation. In most cases, wastes mainly contain acetic acid. Therefore, understanding the anaplerotic pathways in PNSB is crucial for their potential application as producers of biofuels. The present review addresses the recent data on presence and diversity of anaplerotic pathways in PNSB and describes different classifications of these pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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19 pages, 770 KiB

Open AccessReview

Oxidative Stress-Induced Alteration of Plant Central Metabolism

by Tatyana Savchenko and Konstantin Tikhonov

Life 2021, 11(4), 304; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11040304 - 01 Apr 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3345

Abstract

Oxidative stress is an integral component of various stress conditions in plants, and this fact largely determines the substantial overlap in physiological and molecular responses to biotic and abiotic environmental challenges. In this review, we discuss the alterations in central metabolism occurring in [...] Read more.

Oxidative stress is an integral component of various stress conditions in plants, and this fact largely determines the substantial overlap in physiological and molecular responses to biotic and abiotic environmental challenges. In this review, we discuss the alterations in central metabolism occurring in plants experiencing oxidative stress. To focus on the changes in metabolite profile associated with oxidative stress per se, we primarily analyzed the information generated in the studies based on the exogenous application of agents, inducing oxidative stress, and the analysis of mutants displaying altered oxidative stress response. Despite of the significant variation in oxidative stress responses among different plant species and tissues, the dynamic and transient character of stress-induced changes in metabolites, and the strong dependence of metabolic responses on the intensity of stress, specific characteristic changes in sugars, sugar derivatives, tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites, and amino acids, associated with adaptation to oxidative stress have been detected. The presented analysis of the available data demonstrates the oxidative stress-induced redistribution of metabolic fluxes targeted at the enhancement of plant stress tolerance through the prevention of ROS accumulation, maintenance of the biosynthesis of indispensable metabolites, and production of protective compounds. This analysis provides a theoretical basis for the selection/generation of plants with improved tolerance to oxidative stress and the development of metabolic markers applicable in research and routine agricultural practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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21 pages, 2371 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

MicroRNAs: Potential Targets for Developing Stress-Tolerant Crops

by Saurabh Chaudhary, Atul Grover and Prakash Chand Sharma

Life 2021, 11(4), 289; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11040289 - 28 Mar 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7571

Abstract

Crop yield is challenged every year worldwide by changing climatic conditions. The forecasted climatic scenario urgently demands stress-tolerant crop varieties to feed the ever-increasing global population. Molecular breeding and genetic engineering approaches have been frequently exploited for developing crops with desired agronomic traits. [...] Read more.

Crop yield is challenged every year worldwide by changing climatic conditions. The forecasted climatic scenario urgently demands stress-tolerant crop varieties to feed the ever-increasing global population. Molecular breeding and genetic engineering approaches have been frequently exploited for developing crops with desired agronomic traits. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as powerful molecules, which potentially serve as expression markers during stress conditions. The miRNAs are small non-coding endogenous RNAs, usually 20–24 nucleotides long, which mediate post-transcriptional gene silencing and fine-tune the regulation of many abiotic- and biotic-stress responsive genes in plants. The miRNAs usually function by specifically pairing with the target mRNAs, inducing their cleavage or repressing their translation. This review focuses on the exploration of the functional role of miRNAs in regulating plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Moreover, a methodology is also discussed to mine stress-responsive miRNAs from the enormous amount of transcriptome data available in the public domain generated using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Considering the functional role of miRNAs in mediating stress responses, these molecules may be explored as novel targets for engineering stress-tolerant crop varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism of Photosynthetic Organisms)

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