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Dusi V, Pennisi F, Fortini D, Atarés A, Wenkel S, Molesini B, Pandolfini T. Involvement of the tomato BBX16 and BBX17 microProteins in reproductive development. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 213:108873. [PMID: 38914037 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
BBXs are B-Box zinc finger proteins that can act as transcription factors and regulators of protein complexes. Several BBX proteins play important roles in plant development. Two Arabidopsis thaliana microProteins belonging to the BBX family, named miP1a and miP1b, homotypically interact with and modulate the activity of other BBX proteins, including CONSTANS, which transcriptionally activates the florigen, FLOWERING LOCUS T. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing miP1a and miP1b showed delayed flowering. In tomato, the closest homologs of miP1a and miP1b are the microProteins SlBBX16 and SlBBX17. This study was aimed at investigating whether the constitutive expression of SlBBX16/17 in Arabidopsis and tomato impacted reproductive development. The heterologous expression of the two tomato microProteins in Arabidopsis caused a delay in the flowering transition; however, the effect was weaker than that observed when the native miP1a/b were overexpressed. In tomato, overexpression of SlBBX17 prolonged the flowering period; this effect was accompanied by downregulation of the flowering inhibitors Self Pruning (SP) and SP5G. SlBBX16 and SlBBX17 can hetero-oligomerize with TCMP-2, a cystine-knot peptide involved in flowering pattern regulation and early fruit development in tomato. The increased expression of both microProteins also caused alterations in tomato fruit development: we observed in the case of SlBBX17 a decrease in the number and size of ripe fruits as compared to WT plants, while for SlBBX16, a delay in fruit production up to the breaker stage. These effects were associated with changes in the expression of GA-responsive genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Dusi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Federica Pennisi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Fortini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Alejandro Atarés
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46011, Valencia, Spain
| | - Stephan Wenkel
- Department of Plant Physiology, Plant Science Centre, University of Umeå, Linnaeus väg 6, 907 36, Umeå, Sweden; NovoCrops Center, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Barbara Molesini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pandolfini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
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Zhao B, Zhao J, Wang M, Guo Y, Mehmood A, Wang W, Xiong Y, Luo S, Wei DQ, Zhao XQ, Wang Y. Exploring microproteins from various model organisms using the mip-mining database. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:661. [PMID: 37919660 PMCID: PMC10623795 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09735-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Microproteins, prevalent across all kingdoms of life, play a crucial role in cell physiology and human health. Although global gene transcription is widely explored and abundantly available, our understanding of microprotein functions using transcriptome data is still limited. To mitigate this problem, we present a database, Mip-mining ( https://weilab.sjtu.edu.cn/mipmining/ ), underpinned by high-quality RNA-sequencing data exclusively aimed at analyzing microprotein functions. The Mip-mining hosts 336 sets of high-quality transcriptome data from 8626 samples and nine representative living organisms, including microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans, in our Mip-mining database. Our database specifically provides a focus on a range of diseases and environmental stress conditions, taking into account chemical, physical, biological, and diseases-related stresses. Comparatively, our platform enables customized analysis by inputting desired data sets with self-determined cutoff values. The practicality of Mip-mining is demonstrated by identifying essential microproteins in different species and revealing the importance of ATP15 in the acetic acid stress tolerance of budding yeast. We believe that Mip-mining will facilitate a greater understanding and application of microproteins in biotechnology. Moreover, it will be beneficial for designing therapeutic strategies under various biological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Muyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yangfan Guo
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650051, China
| | - Aamir Mehmood
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Weibin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yi Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Shenggan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhongjing Research and Industrialization Institute of Chinese Medicine, Zhongguancun Scientific Park, Meixi, Nayang, Henan, 473006, China.
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Vanke Cloud City Phase I Building 8, Xili Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xin-Qing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Yanjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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Nicoletti M. The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Viscum album. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1460. [PMID: 37050086 PMCID: PMC10096603 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic story of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) presents a seesawing profile. In ancient times, this hemiparasitic plant was considered a panacea and even to be endowed with exceptional beneficial properties. In more recent times, despite its multiple uses in traditional medicines, some parts of the plant, in particular the berries, were considered poisonous and dangerous, including concerns of cytotoxicity, which spread serious suspicion on its medicinal utility. However, since the last century, medical interest in mistletoe has come back in force due to its utilization in clinical cancer treatments, based on its selective action on tumor cells. In Central Europe, the hydro-alcoholic extracts of European mistletoe register a relevant and continuous utilization in anthroposophic medicine, which is a holistic system that includes the utilization of phytomedicinal substances. In Switzerland and Germany, most physicians and patients use these products as complementary therapy in oncological treatments. However, despite its increasing use in this field, the results of mistletoe's use are not always convincing, and other aspects have appeared. Nowadays, products that contain mistletoe are utilized in several fields, including diet, phytotherapy, veterinary medicine and homeopathy, but in particular in cancer therapies as coadjuvant factors, in consideration of several positive effects including effects in the improvement of quality-of-life conditions and reinforcement of the immune system. In this review, based on the understanding of the association between cancer and inflammation, we propose a relationship between these recent uses of mistletoe, based on its antioxidant properties, which are supported by phytochemical and pharmacological data. The unicity of mistletoe metabolism, which is a direct consequence of its hemiparasitism, is utilized as a key interpretation element to explain its biological properties and steer its consequent therapeutic uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Nicoletti
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Gautam H, Sharma A, Trivedi PK. Plant microProteins and miPEPs: Small molecules with much bigger roles. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 326:111519. [PMID: 36330966 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The plant science community has identified various regulatory components involved in gene expression. With the advancement of approaches and technologies, new layers of gene regulation have been identified, which play essential roles in fine-tuning biological processes. In this area, recently, small peptides emerged as key regulators in gene regulation to control developmental and physiological processes in plants. Various small peptides have also been identified and characterized to elucidate their roles. A class of small peptides, microProteins (miPs), have been shown to contain at least a protein-protein interaction domain with the potential to regulate multi-domain proteins by becoming a part of protein complexes. Recent studies suggest that some pri-miRNAs encode peptides (miPEPs), which are essential components in plant growth and development. This review provides updates about these small peptides, in general, summarizing their potential role in gene regulation and possible mechanism(s) in plants. We also propose that in-depth research on newly identified plant peptides in crops help to provide solutions enabling sustainable agriculture and food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshi Gautam
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Ashish Sharma
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, India
| | - Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-NBRI), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, India.
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5
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Treichel AJ, Bazzini AA. Casting CRISPR-Cas13d to fish for microprotein functions in animal development. iScience 2022; 25:105547. [PMID: 36444300 PMCID: PMC9700322 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein coding genes were originally identified with sequence-based definitions that included a 100-codon cutoff to avoid annotating irrelevant open reading frames. However, many active proteins contain less than 100 amino acids. Indeed, functional genetics, ribosome profiling, and proteomic profiling have identified many short, translated open reading frames, including those with biologically active peptide products (microproteins). Yet, functions for most of these peptide products remain unknown. Because microproteins often act as key signals or fine-tune processes, animal development has already revealed functions for a handful of microproteins and provides an ideal context to uncover additional microprotein functions. However, many mRNAs during early development are maternally provided and hinder targeted mutagenesis approaches to characterize developmental microprotein functions. The recently established, RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13d system in zebrafish overcomes this barrier and produces potent knockdown of targeted mRNA, including maternally provided mRNA, and enables flexible, efficient interrogation of microprotein functions in animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariel Alejandro Bazzini
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Kushwaha AK, Dwivedi S, Mukherjee A, Lingwan M, Dar MA, Bhagavatula L, Datta S. Plant microProteins: Small but powerful modulators of plant development. iScience 2022; 25:105400. [PMID: 36353725 PMCID: PMC9638782 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroProteins (miPs) are small and single-domain containing proteins of less than 20 kDa. This domain allows microProteins to interact with compatible domains of evolutionary-related proteins and fine-tuning the key physiological pathways in several organisms. Since the first report of a microProtein in mice, numerous microProteins have been identified in plants by computational approaches. However, only a few candidates have been functionally characterized, primarily in Arabidopsis. The recent success of synthetic microProteins in modulating physiological activities in crops makes these proteins interesting candidates for crop engineering. Here, we comprehensively summarise the synthesis, mode of action, and functional roles of microProteins in plants. We also discuss different approaches used to identify plant microProteins. Additionally, we discuss novel approaches to design synthetic microProteins that can be used to target proteins regulating plant growth and development. We finally highlight the prospects and challenges of utilizing microProteins in future crop improvement programs. MicroProteins (miPs) are small-sized proteins with a molecular weight of 5–20 kDa MiPs can be detected through multiomics and computational approaches MiPs are crucial regulators of plant growth and development MiPs as condensates, synthetic miPs, and limitations
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Bollier N, Gonzalez N, Chevalier C, Hernould M. Zinc Finger-Homeodomain and Mini Zinc Finger proteins are key players in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4662-4673. [PMID: 35536651 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ZINC FINGER-HOMEODOMAIN (ZHD) protein family is a plant-specific family of transcription factors containing two conserved motifs: a non-canonical C5H3 zinc finger domain (ZF) and a DNA-binding homeodomain (HD). The MINI ZINC FINGER (MIF) proteins belong to this family, but were possibly derived from the ZHDs by losing the HD. Information regarding the function of ZHD and MIF proteins is scarce. However, different studies have shown that ZHD/MIF proteins play important roles not only in plant growth and development, but also in response to environmental stresses, including drought and pathogen attack. Here we review recent advances relative to ZHD/MIF functions in multiple species, to provide new insights into the diverse roles of these transcription factors in plants. Their mechanism of action in relation to their ability to interact with other proteins and DNA is also discussed. We then propose directions for future studies to understand better their important roles and pinpoint strategies for potential applications in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Bollier
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, UMR1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, F-33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Nathalie Gonzalez
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, UMR1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, F-33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Christian Chevalier
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, UMR1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, F-33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Michel Hernould
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, UMR1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, F-33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France
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Badola PK, Sharma A, Gautam H, Trivedi PK. MicroRNA858a, its encoded peptide, and phytosulfokine regulate Arabidopsis growth and development. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:1397-1415. [PMID: 35325214 PMCID: PMC9237717 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Small molecules, such as peptides and miRNAs, are crucial regulators of plant growth. Here, we show the importance of cross-talk between miPEP858a (microRNA858a-encoded peptide)/miR858a and phytosulfokine (PSK4) in regulating plant growth and development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Genome-wide expression analysis suggested modulated expression of PSK4 in miR858a mutants and miR858a-overexpressing (miR858aOX) plants. The silencing of PSK4 in miR858aOX plants compromised growth, whereas overexpression of PSK4 in the miR858a mutant rescued the developmental defects. The exogenous application of synthetic PSK4 further complemented the plant development in mutant plants. Exogenous treatment of synthetic miPEP858a in the PSK4 mutant led to clathrin-mediated internalization of the peptide; however, it did not enhance growth as is the case in wild-type plants. We also demonstrated that MYB3 is an important molecular component participating in the miPEP858a/miR858a-PSK4 module. Finally, our work highlights the signaling between miR858a/miPEP858a-MYB3-PSK4 in modulating the expression of key elements involved in auxin responses, leading to the regulation of growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Himanshi Gautam
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
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Wu Q, Zhong S, Shi H. MicroProteins: Dynamic and accurate regulation of protein activity. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 64:812-820. [PMID: 35060666 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Proteins usually assemble oligomers or high-order complexes to increase their efficiency and specificity in biological processes. The dynamic equilibrium of complex formation and disruption imposes reversible regulation of protein function. MicroProteins are small, single-domain proteins that directly bind target protein complexes and disrupt their assembly. Growing evidence shows that microProteins are efficient regulators of protein activity at the post-translational level. In the last few decades, thousands of plant microProteins have been predicted by computational approaches, but only a few have been experimentally validated. Recent studies highlighted the mechanistic working modes of newly-identified microProteins in Arabidopsis and other plant species. Here, we review characterized microProteins, including their biological roles, regulatory targets, and modes of action. In particular, we focus on microProtein-directed allosteric modulation of key components in light signaling pathways, and we summarize the biogenesis and evolutionary trajectory of known microProteins in plants. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of microProteins is an important step towards potential utilization of microProteins as versatile biotechnological tools in crop bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement, Beijing, 100048, China
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Shangwei Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hui Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement, Beijing, 100048, China
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