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Leonetti P, Dallera D, De Marchi D, Candito P, Pasotti L, Macovei A. Exploring the putative microRNAs cross-kingdom transfer in Solanum lycopersicum-Meloidogyne incognita interactions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1383986. [PMID: 38784062 PMCID: PMC11114104 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1383986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Plant-pathogen interaction is an inexhaustible source of information on how to sustainably control diseases that negatively affect agricultural production. Meloidogyne incognita is a root-knot nematode (RKN), representing a pest for many crops, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). RKNs are a global threat to agriculture, especially under climate change, and RNA technologies offer a potential alternative to chemical nematicides. While endogenous microRNAs have been identified in both S. lycopersicum and M. incognita, and their roles have been related to the regulation of developmental changes, no study has investigated the miRNAs cross-kingdom transfer during this interaction. Methods Here, we propose a bioinformatics pipeline to highlight potential miRNA-dependent cross-kingdom interactions between tomato and M. incognita. Results The obtained data show that nematode miRNAs putatively targeting tomato genes are mostly related to detrimental effects on plant development and defense. Similarly, tomato miRNAs putatively targeting M. incognita biological processes have negative effects on digestion, mobility, and reproduction. To experimentally test this hypothesis, an in vitro feeding assay was carried out using sly-miRNAs selected from the bioinformatics approach. The results show that two tomato miRNAs (sly-miRNA156a, sly-miR169f) soaked by juvenile larvae (J2s) affected their ability to infect plant roots and form galls. This was also coupled with a significant downregulation of predicted target genes (Minc11367, Minc00111), as revealed by a qRT-PCR analysis. Discussions Therefore, the current study expands the knowledge related to the cross-kingdom miRNAs involvement in host-parasite interactions and could pave the way for the application of exogenous plant miRNAs as tools to control nematode infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Leonetti
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection of the National Research Council, Unit of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Debora Dallera
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Mathematical Modelling, and Synthetic Biology, Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering - Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide De Marchi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Mathematical Modelling, and Synthetic Biology, Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering - Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pamela Candito
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Mathematical Modelling, and Synthetic Biology, Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering - Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pasotti
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Mathematical Modelling, and Synthetic Biology, Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering - Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anca Macovei
- Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Lesnik C, Kaletsky R, Ashraf JM, Sohrabi S, Cota V, Sengupta T, Keyes W, Luo S, Murphy CT. Enhanced branched-chain amino acid metabolism improves age-related reproduction in C. elegans. Nat Metab 2024; 6:724-740. [PMID: 38418585 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-00996-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Reproductive ageing is one of the earliest human ageing phenotypes, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to oocyte quality decline; however, it is not known which mitochondrial metabolic processes are critical for oocyte quality maintenance with age. To understand how mitochondrial processes contribute to Caenorhabditis elegans oocyte quality, we characterized the mitochondrial proteomes of young and aged wild-type and long-reproductive daf-2 mutants. Here we show that the mitochondrial proteomic profiles of young wild-type and daf-2 worms are similar and share upregulation of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism pathway enzymes. Reduction of the BCAA catabolism enzyme BCAT-1 shortens reproduction, elevates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels, and shifts mitochondrial localization. Moreover, bcat-1 knockdown decreases oocyte quality in daf-2 worms and reduces reproductive capability, indicating the role of this pathway in the maintenance of oocyte quality with age. Notably, oocyte quality deterioration can be delayed, and reproduction can be extended in wild-type animals both by bcat-1 overexpression and by supplementing with vitamin B1, a cofactor needed for BCAA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Lesnik
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Rachel Kaletsky
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Jasmine M Ashraf
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Salman Sohrabi
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Vanessa Cota
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Biology, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Titas Sengupta
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - William Keyes
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Shijing Luo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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Lesnik C, Kaletsky R, Ashraf JM, Sohrabi S, Cota V, Sengupta T, Keyes W, Luo S, Murphy CT. Enhanced Branched-Chain Amino Acid Metabolism Improves Age-Related Reproduction in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.09.527915. [PMID: 38370685 PMCID: PMC10871302 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.09.527915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Reproductive aging is one of the earliest human aging phenotypes, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to oocyte quality decline. However, it is not known which mitochondrial metabolic processes are critical for oocyte quality maintenance with age. To understand how mitochondrial processes contribute to C. elegans oocyte quality, we characterized the mitochondrial proteomes of young and aged wild-type and long-reproductive daf-2 mutants. Here we show that the mitochondrial proteomic profiles of young wild-type and daf-2 worms are similar and share upregulation of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism pathway enzymes. Reduction of the BCAA catabolism enzyme BCAT-1 shortens reproduction, elevates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels, and shifts mitochondrial localization. Moreover, bcat-1 knockdown decreases oocyte quality in daf-2 worms and reduces reproductive capability, indicating the role of this pathway in the maintenance of oocyte quality with age. Importantly, oocyte quality deterioration can be delayed, and reproduction can be extended in wild-type animals both by bcat-1 overexpression and by supplementing with Vitamin B1, a cofactor needed for BCAA metabolism.
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Murley A, Dillin A. Macroautophagy in quiescent and senescent cells: a pathway to longevity? Trends Cell Biol 2022; 33:495-504. [PMID: 36414491 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cellular quiescence - reversible exit from the cell cycle - is an important feature of many cell types important for organismal health. Aging and cellular dysfunction compromise the survival and reactivation of quiescent cells over time. Studies suggest that autophagic processes and lysosomal function are critical to maintaining the function of quiescent cells, especially adult stem cells, throughout life. Findings also point to both pro-senescence and anti-senescence functions for macroautophagy depending on context. In this review, we will discuss these findings, unanswered questions on the role of macroautophagy and lysosomal function in quiescent and senescent cells, and the possibility for interventions that stimulate macroautophagy and lysosomes to promote quiescent cell function and tissue regeneration.
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Data Incompleteness May form a Hard-to-Overcome Barrier to Decoding Life’s Mechanism. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081208. [PMID: 36009835 PMCID: PMC9404739 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The influence of data incompleteness on the correctness of conclusions about the structure and functions of the objects under study is widely discussed in the literature. It was noted that even a small percentage of missing data can lead to incorrect conclusions and imperfect knowledge. In particular, incompleteness can lead to critical errors in the qualitative and quantitative assessments of interactions in biological systems and a distorted understanding of the functioning mechanisms of living systems. In this brief review, we attempt to demonstrate the extent of this incompleteness in functional information about living systems using the best-studied examples. We suggest that this incompleteness may form seemingly insurmountable barriers in deciphering the mechanisms of the functioning of complex systems with unpredictable properties arising from the interaction of the system components. Abstract In this brief review, we attempt to demonstrate that the incompleteness of data, as well as the intrinsic heterogeneity of biological systems, may form very strong and possibly insurmountable barriers for researchers trying to decipher the mechanisms of the functioning of live systems. We illustrate this challenge using the two most studied organisms: E. coli, with 34.6% genes lacking experimental evidence of function, and C. elegans, with identified proteins for approximately 50% of its genes. Another striking example is an artificial unicellular entity named JCVI-syn3.0, with a minimal set of genes. A total of 31.5% of the genes of JCVI-syn3.0 cannot be ascribed a specific biological function. The human interactome mapping project identified only 5–10% of all protein interactions in humans. In addition, most of the available data are static snapshots, and it is barely possible to generate realistic models of the dynamic processes within cells. Moreover, the existing interactomes reflect the de facto interaction but not its functional result, which is an unpredictable emerging property. Perhaps the completeness of molecular data on any living organism is beyond our reach and represents an unsolvable problem in biology.
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Edgley ML, Flibotte S, Moerman DG. Sequenced Breakpoints of Crossover Suppressor/Inversion qC1. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2021; 2021. [PMID: 34746683 PMCID: PMC8567092 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from a number of balanced lethal strains in Caenorhabditis elegans to show that the crossover suppressor qC1 is an inversion. The rearrangement is complex, with a large primary inversion that contains several other smaller inverted regions. The graphical representation below depicts these various qC1 rearrangements for ease of conceptualization. It is the simplest chromosomal structure compatible with the data currently available, but even then it is worth noting that the complexity of the qC1 chromosome can make the graphical reconstruction difficult to understand, and it may seem a bit like relativity theory or artwork from M.C. Escher (https://moa.byu.edu/m-c-eschers-relativity/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Edgley
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephane Flibotte
- UBC/LSI Bioinformatics Facility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Donald G Moerman
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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