Protease Activity in the Rhizosphere of Tomato Plants Is Independent from Nitrogen Status

Rhizoboxes were developed in order to analyse root system and corresponding protease activity in the rhizosphere of young tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker). The activity of proteases exuded by tomato roots applying in situ zymography was detected along the entire root system. The corresponding root architecture as well as root and shoot biomasses was determined to correlate protease activity with plant growth parameters under varying nitrogen supplies. With higher nitrate fertilisation, the proteases in the rhizosphere were more active than nitrogen-deficient plants. This may indicate that exuded proteases were not solely a plant response to nitrogen deficiency with the aim to increase nitrogen availability. Instead, they may have different roles, e.g. in root development

Identification of nitric oxide (NO)-responsive genes under hypoxia in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) root

Flooding periods, as one probable consequence of climate change, will lead more frequently to plant hypoxic stress. Hypoxia sensing and signaling in the root, as the first organ encountering low oxygen, is therefore crucial for plant survival under flooding. Nitric oxide has been shown to be one of the main players involved in hypoxia signaling through the regulation of ERFVII transcription factors stability. Using SNP as NO donor, we investigated the NO-responsive genes, which showed a significant response to hypoxia. We identified 395 genes being differentially regulated under both hypoxia and SNP-treatment. Among them, 251 genes showed up- or down-regulation under both conditions which were used for further biological analysis. Functional classification of these genes showed that they belong to different biological categories such as primary carbon and nitrogen metabolism (e.g. glycolysis, fermentation, protein and amino acid metabolism), nutrient and metabolites transport, redox homeostasis, hormone metabolism, regulation of transcription as well as response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Our data shed light on the NO-mediated gene expression modulation under hypoxia and provides potential targets playing a role in hypoxia tolerance. These genes are interesting candidates for further investigating their role in hypoxia signaling and survival. © 2020, The Author(s)

Long-Term Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Treated Water on the Antioxidative System of Hordeum vulgare

Facing climate change, the development of innovative agricultural technologies securing food production becomes increasingly important. Plasma-treated water (PTW) might be a promising tool to enhance drought stress tolerance in plants. Knowledge about the effects of PTW on the physiology of plants, especially on their antioxidative system on a long-term scale, is still scarce. In this work, PTW was applied to barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare cv. Kosmos) and various constituents of the plants’ antioxidative system were analyzed 30 days after treatment. An additional drought stress was performed after foliar PTW application followed by a recovery period to elucidate whether PTW treatment improved stress tolerance. Upon PTW treatment, the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) in leaves and roots was lower in comparison to deionized water treated plants. In contrast, PTW treatment caused a higher content of chlorophyll, quantum yield and total ascorbate content in leaves compared to deionized water treated plants. After additional drought application and subsequent recovery period, an enhancement of values for TAC, contents of malondialdehyde, glutathione as well as activity of ascorbate peroxidase indicated a possible upregulation of antioxidative properties in roots. Hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide might mediate abiotic stress tolerance and are considered as key components of PTW

RNA Sequencing of Collecting Duct Renal Cell Carcinoma Suggests an Interaction between miRNA and Target Genes and a Predominance of Deregulated Solute Carrier Genes

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a rare renal cell carcinoma subtype with a very poor prognosis. There have been only a few studies on gene expression analysis in CDCs. We compared the gene expression profiles of two CDC cases with those of eight normal tissues of renal cell carcinoma patients. At a threshold of |log2fold-change| ≥1, 3349 genes were upregulated and 1947 genes were downregulated in CDCs compared to the normal samples. Pathway analysis of the deregulated genes revealed that cancer pathways and cell cycle pathways were most prominent in CDCs. The most upregulated gene was keratin 17, and the most downregulated gene was cubilin. Among the most downregulated genes were four solute carrier genes (SLC3A1, SLC9A3, SLC26A7, and SLC47A1). The strongest negative correlations between miRNAs and mRNAs were found between the downregulated miR-374b-5p and its upregulated target genes HIST1H3B, HK2, and SLC7A11 and between upregulated miR-26b-5p and its downregulated target genes PPARGC1A, ALDH6A1, and MARC2. An upregulation of HK2 and a downregulation of PPARGC1A, ALDH6A1, and MARC2 were observed at the protein level. Survival analysis of the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) dataset showed for the first time that low gene expression of MARC2, cubilin, and SLC47A1 and high gene expression of KRT17 are associated with poor overall survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients. Altogether, we identified dysregulated protein-coding genes, potential miRNA-target interactions, and prognostic markers that could be associated with CDC

Effect of nitrate supply and mycorrhizal inoculation on characteristics of tobacco root plasma membrane vesicles

Plant plasma membrane (pm) vesicles from mycorrhizal tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun) roots were isolated with negligible fungal contamination by the aqueous two-phase partitioning technique as proven by fatty acid analysis. Palmitvaccenic acid became apparent as an appropriate indicator for fungal membranes in root pm preparations. The pm vesicles had a low specific activity of the vanadate-sensitive ATPase and probably originated from non-infected root cells. In a phosphate-limited tobacco culture system, root colonisation by the vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus mosseae, is inhibited by external nitrate in a dose-dependent way. However, detrimental high concentrations of 25 mM nitrate lead to the highest colonisation rate observed, indicating that the defence system of the plant is impaired. Nitric oxide formation by the pm-bound nitrite:NO reductase increased in parallel with external nitrate supply in mycorrhizal roots in comparison to the control plants, but decreased under excess nitrate. Mycorrhizal pm vesicles had roughly a twofold higher specific activity as the non-infected control plants when supplied with 10–15 mM nitrate

The renal cancer risk allele at 14q24.2 activates a novel hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-binding enhancer of DPF3 expression

Evolution of clear cell renal cell carcinoma is guided by dysregulation of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) pathways following loss of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)-associated polymorphisms influence HIF–DNA interactions at enhancers of important oncogenes thereby modulating the risk of developing renal cancer. A strong signal of genome-wide association with RCC was determined for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4903064, located on chr14q.24.2 within an intron of DPF3, encoding for Double PHD Fingers 3, a member of chromatin remodeling complexes; however, it is unclear how the risk allele operates in renal cells. In this study, we used tissue specimens and primary renal cells from a large cohort of RCC patients to examine the function of this polymorphism. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissue, isolated tumor cells as well as in primary renal tubular cells, in which HIF was stabilized, we determined genotype-specific increases of DPF3 mRNA levels and identified that the risk SNP resides in an active enhancer region, creating a novel HIF-binding motif. We then confirmed allele-specific HIF binding to this locus using chromatin immunoprecipitation of HIF subunits. Consequentially, HIF-mediated DPF3 regulation was dependent on the presence of the risk allele. Finally, we show that DPF3 deletion in proximal tubular cells retarded cell growth, indicating potential roles for DPF3 in cell proliferation. Our analyses suggest that the HIF pathway differentially operates on a SNP-induced hypoxia-response element at 14q24.2, thereby affecting DPF3 expression, which increases the risk of developing renal cancer

The Swiss Approach - feasibility of a national low-dose CT lung cancer screening program.

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Switzerland. Despite this, there is no lung cancer screening program in the country. In the United States, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening is partially established and endorsed by guidelines. Moreover, evidence is growing that screening reduces lung cancer-related mortality and this was recently shown in a large European randomized controlled trial. Implementation of a lung cancer screening program, however, is challenging and depends on many country-specific factors. The goal of this article is to outline a potential Swiss lung cancer screening program. FRAMEWORK An exhaustive literature review on international screening models as well as interviews and site visits with international experts were initiated. Furthermore, workshops and interviews with national experts and stakeholders were conducted to share experiences and to establish the basis for a national Swiss lung cancer screening program. SCREENING APPROACH General practitioners, pulmonologists and the media should be part of the recruitment process. Decentralisation of the screening might lead to a higher adherence rate. To reduce stigmatisation, the screening should be integrated in a "lung health check". Standardisation and a common quality level are mandatory. The PLCOm2012 risk calculation model with a threshold of 1.5% risk for developing cancer in the next six years should be used in addition to established inclusion criteria. Biennial screening is preferred. LUNG RADS and NELSON+ are applied as classification models for lung nodules. CONCLUSION Based on data from recent studies, literature research, a health technology assessment, the information gained from this project and a pilot study the Swiss Interest Group for lung cancer screening (CH-LSIG) recommends the timely introduction of a systematic lung cancer screening program in Switzerland. The final decision is for the Swiss Cancer Screening Committee to make

The Swiss Approach - feasibility of a national low-dose CT lung cancer screening program

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Switzerland. Despite this, there is no lung cancer screening program in the country. In the United States, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening is partially established and endorsed by guidelines. Moreover, evidence is growing that screening reduces lung cancer-related mortality and this was recently shown in a large European randomized controlled trial. Implementation of a lung cancer screening program, however, is challenging and depends on many country-specific factors. The goal of this article is to outline a potential Swiss lung cancer screening program. FRAMEWORK An exhaustive literature review on international screening models as well as interviews and site visits with international experts were initiated. Furthermore, workshops and interviews with national experts and stakeholders were conducted to share experiences and to establish the basis for a national Swiss lung cancer screening program. SCREENING APPROACH General practitioners, pulmonologists and the media should be part of the recruitment process. Decentralisation of the screening might lead to a higher adherence rate. To reduce stigmatisation, the screening should be integrated in a "lung health check". Standardisation and a common quality level are mandatory. The PLCOm2012 risk calculation model with a threshold of 1.5% risk for developing cancer in the next six years should be used in addition to established inclusion criteria. Biennial screening is preferred. LUNG RADS and NELSON+ are applied as classification models for lung nodules. CONCLUSION Based on data from recent studies, literature research, a health technology assessment, the information gained from this project and a pilot study the Swiss Interest Group for lung cancer screening (CH-LSIG) recommends the timely introduction of a systematic lung cancer screening program in Switzerland. The final decision is for the Swiss Cancer Screening Committee to make