Light signaling and plant responses to blue and UV radiations – Perspectives for applications in horticulture

Ultra-violet (UV) and blue radiations are perceived by plants through several photoreceptors. They regulate a large range of processes throughout plant life. Along with red radiations, they are involved in diverse photomorphogenic responses, e.g., seedling development, branching or flowering. In this paper, we present an overview of UV- and blue-radiations signaling pathways in some key physiological processes and describe effects of plant exposure to these wavelengths on phenotype as well as on contents in useful metabolites and resistance to bio aggressors. Taking these knowledge into account, we finally discuss possible applications of the use of such radiations to improve plant production in horticulture

Interplay of Sugar, Light and Gibberellins in Expression of Rosa hybrida Vacuolar Invertase 1 Regulation

Our previous findings showed that the expression of the Rosa hybrida vacuolar invertase 1 gene (RhVI1) was tightly correlated with the ability of buds to grow out and was under sugar, gibberellin and light control. Here, we aimed to provide an insight into the mechanistic basis of this regulation. In situ hybridization showed that RhVI1 expression was localized in epidermal cells of young leaves of bursting buds. We then isolated a 895 bp fragment of the promoter of RhVI1. In silico analysis identified putative cis-elements involved in the response to sugars, light and gibberellins on its proximal part (595 bp). To carry out functional analysis of the RhVI1 promoter in a homologous system, we developed a direct method for stable transformation of rose cells. 5′ deletions of the proximal promoter fused to the uidA reporter gene were inserted into the rose cell genome to study the cell’s response to exogenous and endogenous stimuli. Deletion analysis revealed that the 468 bp promoter fragment is sufficient to trigger reporter gene activity in response to light, sugars and gibberellins. This region confers sucrose- and fructose-, but not glucose-, responsive activation in the dark. Inversely, the –595 to –468 bp region that carries the sugar-repressive element (SRE) is required to down-regulate the RhVI1 promoter in response to sucrose and fructose in the dark. We also demonstrate that sugar/light and gibberellin/light act synergistically to up-regulate β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity sharply under the control of the 595 bp pRhVI1 region. These results reveal that the 127 bp promoter fragment located between –595 and –468 bp is critical for light and sugar and light and gibberellins to act synergistically

Plant responses to red and far-red lights, applications in horticulture

Light drives plant growth and development, so its control is increasingly used as an environment-friendly tool to manage horticultural crops. However, this implies a comprehensive view of the main physiological processes under light control, and bridging knowledge gaps. This review presents the state of the art in i) perception of red (R) and far-red (FR) wavelengths and of the R:FR ratio by plants, ii) phenotypic plant responses, and iii) the molecular mechanisms related to these responses. Changes in red or far red radiation and R:FR ratios are perceived by phytochromes. Phytochrome-mediated regulation is complex and specific to each physiological process. Our review presents the effects of red and far-red lights on germination, aerial architectural development, flowering, photosynthesis and plant nutrition. It also addresses how red and far-red radiations interact with tolerance to drought, pathogens and herbivores. Current knowledge about the mechanisms whereby red, far-red and R:FR regulate these different processes is presented. The specific actors of light signal transduction are better known for germination or flowering than for other processes such as internode elongation or bud outgrowth. The phenotypic response to red, far-red and R:FR can vary among species, but also with growing conditions. The mechanisms underlying these differences in plant responses still need to be unveiled. Current knowledge about plants\u27 response to light is being applied in horticulture to improve crop yield and quality. To that purpose, it is now possible to manipulate light quality thanks to recent technological evolutions such as the development of photo-selective films and light-emitting diodes

Regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis involves an unexpected complex transcriptional regulation of TT8 expression, in Arabidopsis

TT8/bHLH042 is a key regulator of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (PAs) biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. TT8 transcriptional activity has been studied extensively, and relies on its ability to form, with several R2R3-MYB and TTG1 (WD-Repeat protein), different MYB-bHLH-WDR (MBW) protein complexes. By contrast, little is known on how TT8 expression is itself regulated.Transcriptional regulation of TT8 expression was studied using molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches. Functional dissection of the TT8 promoter revealed its modular structure. Two modules were found to specifically drive TT8 promoter activity in PA- and anthocyanin-accumulating cells, by differentially integrating the signals issued from different regulators, in a spatio-temporal manner. Interestingly, this regulation involves at least six different MBW complexes, and an unpredicted positive feedback regulatory loop between TT8 and TTG2. Moreover, the results suggest that some putative new regulators remain to be discovered. Finally, specific cis-regulatory elements through which TT8 expression is regulated were identified and characterized. Together, these results provide a molecular model consistent with the specific and highly regulated expression of TT8. They shed new light into the transcriptional regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis and provide new clues and tools for further investigation in Arabidopsis and other plant species

Phenotypic differences between dermal fibroblasts from different body sites determine their responses to tension and TGFβ1

BACKGROUND: Wounds in the nonglabrous skin of keloid-prone individuals tend to cause large disordered accumulations of collagen which extend beyond the original margins of the wound. In addition to abnormalities in keloid fibroblasts, comparison of dermal fibroblasts derived from nonwounded glabrous or nonglabrous skin revealed differences that may account for the observed location of keloids. METHODS: Fibroblast apoptosis and the cellular content of α-smooth-muscle actin, TGFβ1 receptorII and ED-A fibronectin were estimated by FACS analysis. The effects of TGFβ1 and serum were examined. RESULTS: In monolayer cultures non-glabrous fibroblasts were slower growing, had higher granularity and accumulated more α-smooth-muscle actin than fibroblasts from glabrous tissues. Keloid fibroblasts had the highest level of α-smooth-muscle actin in parallel with their expression level of ED-A fibronectin. TGFβ1 positively regulated α-smooth-muscle actin expression in all fibroblast cultures, although its effects on apoptosis in fibroblasts from glabrous and non-glabrous tissues were found to differ. The presence of collagen I in the ECM resulted in reduction of α-smooth-muscle actin. A considerable percentage of the apoptotic fibroblasts in attached gels were α-smooth-muscle actin positive. The extent of apoptosis correlated positively with increased cell and matrix relaxation. TGFβ1 was unable to overcome this apoptotic effect of matrix relaxation. CONCLUSION: The presence of myofibroblasts and the apoptosis level can be regulated by both TGFβ1 and by the extracellular matrix. However, reduction of tension in the matrix is the critical determinant. This predicts that the tension in the wound bed determines the type of scar at different body sites

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Les consommations d'énergie dans l'industrie minérale (résumé) Energy Consumption in the Mineral Industry (Summary)

Dans le cadre limité de cette présentation, il était préférable de placer l'accent, non sur les évaluations du coût énergétique des diverses substances minérales, mais plutôt sur les paramètres de ces coûts, leur évolution récente et leur devenir dans une prospective à moyen terme, questions susceptibles d'alimenter ensuite les discussions. Après un bref rappel méthodologique, seront successivement examinés : - d'un point de vue global, la consommation d'énergie de l'industrie minérale, sa répartition et son évolution par formes d'énergie mises en oeuvre ; - d'un point de vue analytique, la nature des facteurs qui régissent les coûts énergétiques miniers, minéralurgiques et métallurgiques, les tendances récentes constatées et leurs implications pour l'avenir ; - d'un point de vue prospectif, enfin, quelques-uns des remèdes - ou palliatifs ? - à l'élévation des coûts énergétiques des substances minérales. <br> Within the required time for the presentation of this paper, it was more advisable to emphasize, not the sizing up of the energy cost of mineral raw materials and products, but rather the parameters of thes costs, and their evolution, actual and in a medium-term prospective, questions of eventual interest for the discussions. After a short recall of methodology, we have to examine successively: - on a global standpoint, the energy consumption of the mineral industry, the breakdown of this consumption by forms of energy used, and its evolution; - on an analytical standpoint, the main factors which direct the energy requirements in mining, beneficiating and smeltinq operations, the trends that are observed and their results for the future; - on a prospective standpoint, at last, what are the possibilities to cut off - or palliate? - the increase of the mineral commodities energy costs

Turbine rim seal ingestion

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Le "fleuve cotier": Un phenomene hydrologique important en Manche orientale. Exemple du Pas-de-Calais

The English Channel has a "megatidal" regime: in the Dover Strait, the tidal range varies between 3 and 9 m in neap-tide and spring-tide respectively. The tide currents are alternating and essentially parallel to the coast. Along the French coast, the fluvial supplies, distributed from the Bay of Seine to Cape Gris-Nez, generate a coastal water mass which drifts nearshore, separated from the open sea by a frontal area: this coastal flow is characterized by its freshness, turbidity, phytoplankton richness, and pollution content. Its width is only 3 to 5 miles, but because of the high concentrations of dissolved and suspended components, it is possible that the coastal flow plays an important role in the fluxes between the Eastern Channel and the North Sea