The phenomenon of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants is characterized by a disturbance in the development of functional pollen. The cause of this disorder is the incompatibility of the mitochondrial and nuclear genome. Determinants of CMS are found in the mitochondrial genome and are inherited maternally. Nuclear Rf genes are responsible for restoring male fertility in CMS plants most often by posttranscriptional and/or posttranslational activity on mitochondrial gene expression. Two fertility restoring genes have been identified in sugar beet plants, of which Rf1 is the best characterized. It is concluded that the translation product of this gene acts as a molecular chaperone leading to inactivation of a specific mitochondrial protein that is a marker for the CMS trait in sugar beet. The CMS phenomenon is applied in the commercial breeding of hybrid varieties of many crop species. Exploiting heterosis is easier with the knowledge of cytoplasmic (mitochondrial) determinants of sterility and corresponding restorer genes.
The Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) was proposed as a standard for taxonomic affiliation of newly sequenced bacterial genomes. However, usage of ANI value as a means of strains phenotypic diversity offers a relatively easy way for studding bacterial phylogeny. Here we present a simple approach to bacterial genomes comparison based on ANI using fastANI and ANIclustermap. Both programs are available as an open-source tools and can be run using simple command lines. We present protocol for programs installation as a conda packages, that facilitate it utilization. Further, we explain how to prepare commands to perform the analysis. We believed our work could be useful for young scientist that begin their experience with bioinformatics.
Stable plant production is a crucial concern of modern agriculture facing increasing food demands and the risk of less predictable weather conditions in the open field. Alternative approaches for plant production are greenhouses and indoor farming. Modern LED-based artificial lighting indoor facilities allow not only to fill the gap in the supply chain of food production, but to produce plants characterized with higher concentration of essential phytochemicals. Thus, in this study, we attempt to analyse the efficiency of short-term supplementation of spectrum within ultraviolet A light (UV-A, 365 nm) to increase the antioxidant potential of leafy plants, assessed by total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content. To this end, two distinct cultivars of baby leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) and microgreens basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants were grown under red-green-blue spectrum supplemented prior to harvest with low doses of UV-A radiation. Analyses showed that UV-A exposition enhanced TPC and TFC with green leaf cultivars, compared to dark-pigmented ones. The analysis also proved that plants exposed to UV-A presented higher overall antioxidant potential measured with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH). Results are crucial for better understanding the potential of UV-A supplementation to produce functional plants which are natural sources of dietary antioxidants.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen in patients suffering from Cystic Fibrosis as well as acute opportunistic infections in people without it. For the reason of P. aeruginosa having a broad range of habitats it’s diversity and adaptability lead it to be a very diverse species. Previous attempts of classifying P. aeruginosa strains based on their biochemical and genetic characteristics were made. In presented studied we performed additional characteristic of P. aeruginosa panel strains genomes using wide range of in silico approaches, including Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) - based phylogeny, as well as pan-genome and Intergenic Regions (IGRs) investigation. We shed light on strains diversity, expanding our knowledge about the strains assembled in this international panel. The results of our study may become the basis for further research aimed at fully understanding the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa.
Lignocellulosic materials are composed of three major biocomponents such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, which form a compact lignocellulosic complex. Characterized by high caloric content, lignocellulosic biomass, including coffee grounds, is a valuable energy source that can be efficiently used in various bioconversion and biotransformation processes. Due to the high consumption of coffee in the world, there is an increasing amount of coffee grounds, which is a rich waste and at the same time a valuable secondary raw material, and its use fits perfectly into a closed-loop economy. Coffee grounds biomass contains polysaccharides, mainly mannans, proteins, lipids, polyphenols, which will allow the development of different biorefinery strategies, the creation of new value-added products with reduced waste generation. The research describes the pre-treatment of coffee grounds with dilute sulfuric acid to evaluate the effect of acid concentration, hydrolysis time on biogas yield, including methane and lactic acid biosynthesis during anaerobic fermentations. A yield of 381.12 mL of CH4/g-VS methane was obtained, accounting for 72.48% of the total biogas composition. It was found that the most efficient sample in terms of substrate pre-treatment for lactic acid biosynthesis was coffee grounds after 90 min hydrolysis with 1.5% H2SO4 at 121 °C.
Endometriosis, a challenging gynecological disorder characterized by the ectopic presence of endometrial-like tissue, presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic hurdles due to its complex etiology and diverse clinical manifestations. Recent advancements in understanding its pathogenesis have underscored the pivotal role of epigenetic alterations, offering new insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Epigenetic changes in endometrial cells significantly contribute to endometriosis pathogenesis, disrupting normal physiology and hormone responsiveness, particularly to progesterone. Dysregulation of histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNA expression disrupts cellular homeostasis and promotes disease progression. Histone modifications, notably methylation and acetylation, influence chromatin structure and gene expression, affecting progesterone responsiveness and disease progression. Epigenetic regulators such as Cfp1 modulate progesterone receptor expression and downstream signalling pathways, presenting potential therapeutic targets. Non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs and lncRNAs, exert regulatory effects on gene expression and are implicated in endometriosis pathogenesis. Dysregulated expression disrupts cellular homeostasis and promotes disease progression. Biomarker studies have identified specific miRNAs and lncRNAs associated with endometriosis, offering avenues for non-invasive diagnosis and targeted therapies. siRNA-based therapies targeting key genes involved in endometriosis pathogenesis show promise as novel treatment modalities. By modulating gene expression and cellular functions, siRNA-based therapies offer a targeted approach to mitigate pathological processes. In this review, we summarize recent findings in the molecular mechanisms and regulatory pathways of endometriosis, offering valuable insights into pathology and therapeutic interventions. Future research efforts aimed at elucidating the complex interplay between epigenetic regulators and disease pathways hold promise for innovative diagnostic tools and targeted therapies.
The human body is host to a variety of microbial species that are essential for maintaining general health. About nine percent of these microbial species inhabit the urogenital tract. It is therefore important to establish a symbiotic relationship between the host’s immune system and the microbiota in this region. Disruptions of this symbiosis can contribute to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), bacterial vaginosis (BV), vaginal candidiasis and/or even gynaecological cancers by promoting the proliferation of infectious agents. The chemotherapeutic agents currently used in cancer treatment are associated with undesirable side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for antitumor agents that have minimal toxicity compared to conventional treatments. Furthermore, the use of drugs to prevent or alleviate the side effects of cervical cancer treatment could significantly improve the quality of life of patients undergoing such therapy. In this review, we focus our attention on the potential efficacy of probiotics in both the prevention and therapeutic intervention of neoplasms affecting the genital tract.
The regulation of leaf senescence depends on endogenous and exogenous factors, among them phytohormones like cytokinins (CKs). CKs are key players regulating the senescing process, as their endogenous concentration is linked to the onset and rate of senescence progression. Thus, this study aimed to identify the relationship between the activity of endogenous CKs biosynthesis pathways - the cytosolic mevalonate (MVA) and the plastid methyl-erythritol phosphate (MEP) and the rate of leaf senescence. To this end, three distinct tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivars – Xanthi, Golden Virginia and Monte Calme Yellow were analysed. The study involved treatment with exogenous CK – benzyladenine – and two different CK synthesis inhibitors: lovastatin and clomazone. The progression of senescence was induced by light deprivation and monitored with chlorophyll level (SPAD), photosynthetic activity (PAM) and changes in the Rubisco protein profile (SDS-PAGE). Analyses showed that the Xanthi cultivar was characterized by delayed onset of senescence and stay-green phenotype, while Golden Virginia, and particularly Monte Calme Yellow showed rapid leaf senescence. The studies provided valuable information regarding the role of MEP and MVA pathway of CK synthesis in the regulation of tobacco leaf senescence.
Polyphenols are a large group of organic compounds present in plants, where they play various roles pivotal to their proper physiological functioning. Polyphenols are ubiquitous in many dietary sources such as fruits, vegetables, beverages, seeds, and honeys. Diet plays a crucial role in sustaining overall well-being of the organism and preventing diseases, including cancer. Despite broad spectrum of health promoting activity of polyphenols, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, many of them are also potent anti-cancer compounds. In this review we focused on presentation of three polyphenols such as quercetin, curcumin, and kaempferol. We discussed recent studies concerning their beneficial impact on human health and potential as anticancer agents.
Purpose: Furin is a proprotein convertase commonly found in the human body. The enzymatic activity of furin is necessary for the activation of numerous substrates including e.g. hormones and growth factors. Nevertheless, furin is involved in various pathological conditions caused by, among others, chronic inflammation. Therefore furin is considered as a potential target in autoimmune diseases therapy. We performed an experiment in which the expression of FURIN gene in U-87 MG astrocytoma cells was investigated. Additionally, this cell line contains some sequences coding human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), including ERVW-1 and its receptor- SLC1A5. Deregulation of HERV expression has been observed in some neurodegenerative diseases as well as in inflammatory process. Material and Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot (WB) techniques were utilized for analysis. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were used for cell stimulation. Short interfering RNAs (siRNA) were used for gene expression inhibition in U-87 MG cells in vitro. Results: Cell stimulation by PMA strongly increased FURIN expression, simultaneously downregulating ERVW-1 (p<0.01). Moreover addition of PMA significantly stimulates the autocatalytic action of cellular furin itself resulting in the dissociation of its propeptide that was clearly visible in a time-dependent manner. SiRNA-mediated expression inhibition of ERVW-1 and FURIN influenced the mRNA level for SLC1A5 (ASCT2) - primary syncytin-1 receptor, that was significantly lower. FURIN inhibition by siRNA caused strong upregulation of ERVW-1 expression (p<0.01). Conclusion: Our results showed that stimulation by PMA and inhibition expression by siRNA affects the expression of FURIN in U-87 MG astrocytoma cells. Moreover, furin shows a complex relationship on the expression of ERVW-1 and SLC1A5 genes, as well as on the form (precursor or mature) and the amount of the final translation products of the transcripts. The regulation of FURIN may pose a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases caused by autoimmunity.
Theta rhythm is one of the most prominent examples of rhythmic oscillatory activity in mammalian brain and it is generated mainly in structures of the limbic cortex, including the hippocampal formation. In the 1970s it was shown that theta rhythm may be also recorded in diencephalic region including the posterior hypothalamic nuclei and supramammillary nucleus, together considered as the posterior hypothalamic area (PHa). For decades it was stated that local posterior hypothalamic oscillatory activity is controlled by the descending inputs going to the PHa from the septohippocampal system. However, the latest studies indicated that theta rhythm can be recorded in deafferented PHa in vitro preparations which indicates that the posterior hypothalamic area should be considered as an independent of the other brain structures theta generator. In subsequent research the neurochemical and cellular basis of PHa theta were examined in both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In the light of multiple evidence obtained in these studies, it is the author’s intent to summarize the data concerning the role of the posterior hypothalamic area in hippocampal theta rhythm generation as well as the ability of that brain structure to independently generate theta rhythmicity.
The development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques allowed conducting research with greater efficiency and determining the microbial pattern of niches in the human body that were previously considered sterile. Observed changes in the microbiome composition of patients with cancer lesions increasingly indicate the role of microorganisms in the tumour induction and progression. Overgrowth of certain pathogenic strains within the tissue may cause inflammation, which in its chronic form may lead to destabilization of host genome. Such changes may result in altering the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in significant metabolic pathways and promote pathogenic cell functions such as proliferation stimulation, apoptosis inhibition and modulation of inflammatory response. Consequently, these events may lead to tissue destruction, disruption of physiological processes and development of disease states including cancer. In light of emerging reports on the role of changes in the composition of the microbiota in tumorigenesis induction and the presence of pathogenic strains in the ovarian cancer (OC) tumour microenvironment (TME), the hypothesis of a potential role for bacteria in the pathogenesis of this cancer is also gaining interest. The following review presents a summary of scientific research indicating potential role of TME bacteria in the immunopathogenesis of OC.
