Uncovering the Molecular Regulation of Seed Development and Germination in Endangered Legume Paubrasilia echinata Through Proteomic and Polyamine Analyses
Authors: Vettorazzi, R. G., Carrari-Santos, R., Sousa, K. R., Oliveira, T. R., Grativol, C., Olimpio, G., Venancio, T. M., Pinto, V. B., Quintanilha-Peixoto, G., Silveira, V., Santa-Catarna, C.
The study examined seed maturation and germination in the endangered legume Paubrasilia echinata using proteomic and polyamine analyses at 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-anthesis, identifying over 2,000 proteins and linking specific polyamines to developmental stages. Mature seeds (6 weeks) showed elevated proteasome components, translation machinery, LEA proteins, and heat shock proteins, while polyamine dynamics revealed putrescine dominance in early development and spermidine/spermine association with desiccation tolerance and germination. These findings uncover dynamic molecular shifts underlying seed development and provide insights for conservation and propagation.
RNA sequencing of the halophyte Salicornia europaea revealed that combined hypoxia‑salt stress triggers a unique transcriptional response, with 16% of genes specifically altered and distinct synergistic, antagonistic, and additive effects across functional pathways. Metabolic analyses indicated enhanced sucrose and trehalose metabolism, a shift toward lactate fermentation, and increased proline synthesis, highlighting complex regulatory strategies for coping with concurrent stresses.
In a controlled dry-down experiment, Arabis sagittata showed significantly higher recovery from drought than the endangered Arabis nemorensis, a difference that could not be traced to a single major QTL, indicating a polygenic basis. Transcriptome and small‑RNA sequencing revealed that A. sagittata mounts a stronger transcriptional response, including species‑specific regulation of the conserved drought miRNA miR408, and machine‑learning identified distinct cis‑regulatory motif patterns underlying these divergent stress‑response networks.
The study provides a comprehensive proteomic analysis of seed mitochondria from white lupin, revealing fully assembled OXPHOS complexes ready for immediate energy production upon imbibition. Quantitative mass‑spectrometry identified 1,162 mitochondrial proteins, highlighting tissue‑specific transporter and dehydrogenase profiles and dynamic remodeling during early germination, while many uncharacterized proteins suggest novel legume‑specific functions.
The study examined whether colonisation by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis primes immune responses in barley against the leaf rust pathogen Puccinia hordei. While AMF did not affect disease severity or plant growth, co‑infected leaves showed heightened expression of defence genes and transcriptome reprogramming, including altered protein ubiquitination, indicating a priming mechanism. These results highlight transcriptional and post‑translational pathways through which AMF can enhance barley disease resistance for sustainable crop protection.
Light on its feet: Acclimation to high and low diurnal light is flexible in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Dupuis, S., Chastain, J. L., Han, G., Zhong, V., Gallaher, S. D., Nicora, C. D., Purvine, S. O., Lipton, M. S., Niyogi, K. K., Iwai, M., Merchant, S. S.
The study examined how prior light‑acclimation influences the fitness and rapid photoprotective reprogramming of Chlamydomonas during transitions between low and high diurnal light intensities. While high‑light‑acclimated cells struggled to grow and complete the cell cycle after shifting to low light, low‑light‑acclimated cells quickly remodeled thylakoid ultrastructure, enhanced photoprotective quenching, and altered photosystem protein levels, recovering chloroplast function within a single day. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling revealed swift induction of stress‑response genes, indicating high flexibility in diurnal light acclimation.
The study introduces a native‑condition method combining cell fractionation and immuno‑isolation to purify autophagic compartments from Arabidopsis, followed by proteomic and lipidomic characterisation of the isolated phagophore membranes. Proteomic profiling identified candidate proteins linked to autophagy, membrane remodeling, vesicular trafficking and lipid metabolism, while lipidomics revealed a predominance of glycerophospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, defining the unique composition of plant phagophores.
The study integrates genome, transcriptome, and chromatin accessibility data from 380 soybean accessions to dissect the genetic and regulatory basis of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Using GWAS, TWAS, eQTL mapping, and ATAC-seq, the authors identify key loci, co‑expression modules, and regulatory elements, and validate the circadian clock gene GmLHY1b as a negative regulator of nodulation via CRISPR and CUT&Tag. These resources illuminate SNF networks and provide a foundation for soybean improvement.
Mycotoxin-driven proteome remodeling reveals limited activation of Triticum aestivum responses to emerging chemotypes integrated with fungal modulation of ergosterols
Authors: Ramezanpour, S., Alijanimamaghani, N., McAlister, J. A., Hooker, D., Geddes-McAlister, J.
The study used comparative proteomics to examine how the emerging 15ADON/3ANX chemotype of Fusarium graminearum affects protein expression in both wheat and the fungus. It identified a core wheat proteome altered by infection, chemotype‑specific wheat proteins, and fungal proteins linked to virulence and ergosterol biosynthesis, revealing distinct molecular responses influencing disease severity.
The study examined three fruit morphotypes of the desert shrub Haloxylon ammodendron, revealing distinct germination performances under salt and drought stress. Proteomic analysis identified 721 differentially expressed proteins, particularly between the YP and PP morphotypes, linking stress‑responsive protein abundance to rapid germination in YP and delayed germination in PP as contrasting adaptive strategies. The findings suggest that fruit polymorphism facilitates niche differentiation and informs germplasm selection for desert restoration.