MeFtsZ2-1 is a key gene for plant plastid division, but the mechanism by which MeFtsZ2-1 affects pigment accumulation in cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) through plastids remains unclear. We found that MeFtsZ2-1 overexpression in cassava (OE) exhibited darker colors of leaves, with increased levels of anthocyanins and carotenoids. Further observation via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed no apparent defects in chloroplast structure but an increase in the number of plastoglobule in OE leaves. RNA-seq results showed 1582 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in leaves of OE. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that these DEGs were enriched in pathways related to flavonoid, anthocyanin, and carotenoid biosynthesis. This study reveals the role of MeFtsZ2-1 in cassava pigment accumulation from a physiological and transcriptomic perspective, providing a theoretical basis for improving cassava quality.

The 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4CL) plays a critical role in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway and is a key enzyme in plant growth metabolism and stress responses. Using bioinformatics methods, 50 Me4CL gene were identified within the cassava genome u, and a comprehensive analysis of the cassava 4CL gene family was conducted. The results showed that these 50 4CL proteins are divided into four subfamilies, with members within the same subfamily sharing similar or identical gene structures. Co-linearity analysis revealed that cassava and rubber trees have the highest number of homologous genes, indicating a close homologous relationship between them. Analysis of 20 cis-acting elements in the promoter region of Me4CL32 revealed the presence of hormone-responsive elements such as gibberellin, auxin, abscisic acid, and as well as elements related to meristematic tissue regulation. results Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that Me4CL32 gene expression changes in response to abiotic stressors (drought, salt, cold, heat) and hormonal stimuli(GA3 and ABA) , indicating that Me4CL32 can respond to both environmental pressures and hormone signals. RNA-seq transcriptome and single-cell transcriptome analyses were used to examine the expression patterns of Me4CLs. Additionally, subcellular localization studies demonstrated that the Me4CL32 protein is confined to the chloroplasts of cassava leaves. .Investigating the functionality of this gene family aids in comprehending plant growth, development, and stress resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, it furnishes a theoretical basis for future research on developing resilient cassava germplasm and the enhancing cassava's environmental tolerance.

为了得到靶向FtsZ的潜在肽类抑制剂和对其作用机制进行探究,采用分子对接方法筛选靶向金黄色葡萄球菌FtsZ蛋白的肽类化合物配体,利用分子动力学方法分析筛选到的配体与FtsZ蛋白结合状态的动态变化,计算配体重原子位置均方根偏差(RMSD)和相互作用能(Interaction energy).在分子动力学分析基础上,分析以上短肽配体的抗菌活性,测定其对 GTP酶活性的影响.结果表明,TE101、PE101、PE102、PE103和PE104五个多肽对于金黄色葡萄球菌的生长有抑制作用,且该作用与FtsZ蛋白GTPase活性无关.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the main pathological characteristic of AD is the deposition of Aβ42 in the brain. Inhibition of Aβ42 polymerization is one of the important research directions. Due to the pathological complexity of Alzheimer's disease, studies on Aβ42 polymerization inhibitors have not made significant progress worldwide. Using an independently constructed structure database of oligopeptides, in this study, molecular docking, umbrella sampling analysis of free energy, ThT fluorescence detection of Aβ42 polymerization, transmission electron microscopy, and flow cytometry detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis were performed to screen tripeptides and pentapeptides that inhibit polymerization. It was found that two tripeptides, i.e., WRR and ERW, bind stably to the core of Aβ42 polymerization in the molecular dynamics analysis, and they significantly inhibited the aggregation of Aβ42 and reduced their cell toxicity in vitro.

The 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4CL) plays a critical role in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway and is a key enzyme in plant growth metabolism and stress responses. In this study, 50 Me4CLs were identified within the cassava genome utilizing bioinformatics methods, and a comprehensive analysis of the cassava 4CL gene family was conducted. The results showed that the 50 4CL proteins were divided into four subfamilies, and members within the same subfamily share similar or identical gene structures. Co-linearity analysis revealed that cassava and rubber trees have the highest number of homologous genes, indicating a close homologous relationship between them. Analysis of 15 cis-acting elements in the promoter region of Me4CL32 reveals the presence of hormone-responsive elements such as gibberellin, auxin, abscisic acid, and as well as elements related to meristematic tissue regulation. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed alterations in Me4CL32 gene expression in response to abiotic stressors (drought, salt, cold, heat) as well as GA3 and ABA hormonal stimuli, implying the capacity of Me4CL32 to react to both environmental pressures and hormone stimuli. The RNA-seq transcriptome and single-cell transcriptome were opted to analyze the expression pattern of Me4CLs. Additionally, the subcellular localization of the Me4CL32 demonstrated the confinement of the Me4CL32 protein within cassava leaf chloroplasts. Delving into the functionality of this gene family aids in comprehending the growth, development, and stress resistance mechanisms within plants. Furthermore, it furnishes a theoretical underpinning for future investigations concerning resilient cassava germplasm and the enhancement of cassava's environmental tolerance.

AbstractCassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important crop with a high photosynthetic rate and high yield. It is classified as a C3–C4 plant based on its photosynthetic and structural characteristics. To investigate the structural and photosynthetic characteristics of cassava leaves at the cellular level, we created a single-cell transcriptome atlas of cassava leaves. A total of 11,177 high-quality leaf cells were divided into 15 cell clusters. Based on leaf cell marker genes, we identified 3 major tissues of cassava leaves, which were mesophyll, epidermis, and vascular tissue, and analyzed their distinctive properties and metabolic activity. To supplement the genes for identifying the types of leaf cells, we screened 120 candidate marker genes. We constructed a leaf cell development trajectory map and discovered 6 genes related to cell differentiation fate. The structural and photosynthetic properties of cassava leaves analyzed at the single cellular level provide a theoretical foundation for further enhancing cassava yield and nutrition.

Heat shock proteins are important molecular chaperones that are involved in plant growth and stress responses. However, members of the Hsp family have been poorly studied in cassava. In this study, 225 MeHsp genes were identified in the cassava genome, and their genetic structures exhibited relatively conserved features within each subfamily. The 225 MeHsp genes showed random chromosomal distribution, and at least 74 pairs of segmentally duplicated MeHsp genes. Eleven tandemly duplicated MeHsp genes were identified. Cis-element analysis revealed the importance of MeHsps in plant adaptations to the environment. The prediction of protein interactions suggested that MeHsp70-20 may play a critical regulatory role in the interactive network. Furthermore, the expression profiles of MeHsps in different tissues and cell subsets were analyzed using bulk transcriptomics and single-cell transcriptomic data. Several subfamily genes exhibited unique expression patterns in the transcriptome and were selected for detailed analysis of the single-cell transcriptome. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed the expression patterns of these genes under temperature stress, further supporting the prediction of cis-acting elements. This study provides valuable information for understanding the functional characteristics of MeHsp genes and the evolutionary relationships between MeHsps.

Filamentous temperature-sensitive protein Z (Tubulin/FtsZ) family is a group of conserved GTP-binding (guanine nucleotide-binding) proteins, which are closely related to plant tissue development and organ formation as the major component of the cytoskeleton. According to the published genome sequence information of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), 23 tubulin genes (MeTubulins) were identified, which were divided into four main groups based on their type and phylogenetic characteristics. The same grouping generally has the same or similar motif composition and exon–intron structure. Collinear analysis showed that fragment repetition event is the main factor in amplification of cassava tubulin superfamily gene. The expression profiles of MeTubulin genes in various tissue were analyzed, and it was found that MeTubulins were mainly expressed in leaf, petiole, and stem, while FtsZ2-1 was highly expressed in storage root. The qRT-PCR results of the FtsZ2-1 gene under hormone and abiotic stresses showed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin A3 (GA3) stresses could significantly increase the expression of the FtsZ2-1 gene, thereby revealing the potential role of FtsZ2-1 in IAA and GA3 stress-induced responses.