Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects最新文献

{"title":"The 60 nm gold nanoparticles improve qPCR amplification efficiency through specific palindromic sequences (GGATCC or ACCGGT) in primers","authors":"Ruyu Zeng ,&nbsp;Zhiqun Du ,&nbsp;Hongliang Ma ,&nbsp;Xiuqiong Meng ,&nbsp;Erhua Li ,&nbsp;Jiangchao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technology are widely used in clinical diagnosis and research, but amplification efficiency and sensitivity are still key problems for researchers. An increasing number of reports show that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be used to improve the sensitivity and amplification efficiency of PCR. Here, we found that 60 nm gold nanoparticles with a positive charge (60 nm- Au⁺) can enhance the amplification efficiency of qPCR.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Mouse DNA was extracted by the alkaline lysis method. Primer 5.0 software was used to design primers and mutation primers, and the DNA fragments were obtained by the method of synthesizing plasmids. The qPCR was applied to amplify target gene fragments.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The amplification efficiency of qPCR was improved by about 1.828 times in the experimental group with 60 nm- Au⁺ compared with the control group without 60 nm- Au⁺. The primer pair contains a specific palindromic sequence (GGATCC or ACCGGT). And 60 nm Au⁺ did not enhance the amplification efficiency of qPCR when the above primer was mutated.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The primers contain special palindrome sequences (GGATCC or ACCGGT) with 60 nm- Au⁺ can enhance the amplification efficiency of qPCR. Therefore, it suggests a more in-depth understanding of the mechanism and function of gold nanoparticles and primer sequences. This study has presented some implications for gold nanoparticles application in the development of qPCR technology.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304416524000035/pdfft?md5=e2986aa6f9372a97b60ea65322ef9b4c&pid=1-s2.0-S0304416524000035-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139411614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanotechnology in the diagnostic and therapy for Alzheimer's disease","authors":"Archna Panghal ,&nbsp;S.J.S. Flora","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by β-amyloid plaque, intraneuronal tangles, significant neuronal loss and cognitive deficit. Treatment in the early stages of the disease is crucial for preventing or perhaps reversing the neurodegeneration in the AD cases. However, none of the current diagnostic procedures are capable of early diagnosis of AD. Further, the available treatments merely provide symptomatic alleviation in AD and do not address the underlying illness. Therefore, there is no permanent cure for AD currently. Better therapeutic outcomes need the optimum drug concentration in the central nervous system (CNS) by traversing blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Nanotechnology offers enormous promise to transform the treatment and diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases. Nanotechnology based diagnostic tools, drug delivery systems and theragnostic are capable of highly sensitive molecular detection, effective drug targeting and their combination. Significant work has been done in this area over the last decade and prospective results have been obtained in AD therapy. This review explores the various applications of nanotechnology in addressing the varied facets of AD, ranging from early detection to therapeutic interventions. This review also looks at how nanotechnology can help with the development of disease-modifying medicines, such as the delivery of anti-amyloid, anti-tau, </span>cholinesterase inhibitors, antioxidants and hormonal drugs. In conclusion, this paper discusses the role of nanotechnology in the early detection of AD, effective drug targeting to the CNS and theragnostic applications in the management of AD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139373773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced nanoscale delivery systems for mRNA-based vaccines","authors":"Maha Mobasher,&nbsp;Rais Ansari,&nbsp;Ana M. Castejon,&nbsp;Jaleh Barar,&nbsp;Yadollah Omidi","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130558","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130558","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>The effectiveness of messenger RNA<span> (mRNA) vaccines, especially those designed for COVID-19, relies heavily on sophisticated delivery systems that ensure efficient delivery of mRNA to target cells. A variety of nanoscale vaccine delivery systems (VDSs) have been explored for this purpose, including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles made from bio</span></span><em>co</em>mpatible polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), as well as viral vectors and lipid-polymer hybrid complexes. Among these, LNPs are particularly notable for their efficiency in encapsulating and protecting mRNA. These nanoscale VDSs can be engineered to enhance stability and facilitate uptake by cells. The choice of delivery system depends on factors like the specific mRNA vaccine, target cell types, stability requirements, and desired immune response. In this review, we shed light on recent advances in delivery mechanisms for self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines, emphasizing groundbreaking studies on nanoscale delivery systems aimed at improving the efficacy and safety of mRNA/saRNA vaccines.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139103664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HERC4 modulates ovarian cancer cell proliferation by regulating SMO-elicited hedgehog signaling","authors":"Qingjuan Zhu,&nbsp;Xin Yang,&nbsp;Yuchun Lv","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>HERC4 has been reported to have functions in several types of tumors, but its roles in ovarian cancer have not been studied yet.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p><span>Primary tissues from ovarian cancer patients and cell lines were collected for real-time PCR. Kaplan-Meier Plotter was used to predict the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. HERC4 was overexpressed in cells by lentivirus<span>, and CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate cell viability<span>. Real-time PCR and Western blot<span> were carried out to analyze the mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Xenograft tumor models were established to analyze HERC4 function </span></span></span></span><em>in vivo</em>.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p><span>Firstly, we found that HERC4 was significantly downregulated in ovarian cancer. We then found that ovarian cancer patients with high HERC4 expression had significantly higher overall survival and progression-free survival rates compared with patients with low expression. Then, HERC4 was overexpressed in ovarian cancer cells, and we found that overexpression of HERC4 significantly inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth, as well as the expression of the target protein SMO, and the key proteins in the downstream hedgehog signaling pathway. Finally, the xenograft tumor models revealed that overexpression of HERC4 significantly inhibited tumor growth </span><em>in vivo</em>.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p><span>Overall, these results indicate that overexpression of HERC4 inhibits cell proliferation of ovarian cancer </span><em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>, suggesting that HERC4 may serve as an effective target for the treatment of ovarian cancer.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139094899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crystal structure of the GH-46 subclass III chitosanase from Bacillus circulans MH-K1 in complex with chitotetraose","authors":"Michihiko Suzuki ,&nbsp;Akihiro Saito ,&nbsp;Mariko Kobayashi ,&nbsp;Tomofumi Yokoyama ,&nbsp;Shoko Omiya ,&nbsp;Jian Li ,&nbsp;Kei Sugita ,&nbsp;Kunio Miki ,&nbsp;Jun-ichi Saito ,&nbsp;Akikazu Ando","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130549","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130549","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p><span><span>Chitosanases (EC 3.2.1.132) hydrolyze chitosan which is a polymer of </span>glucosamine (GlcN) linked by β − 1,4 bonds, and show cleavage specificity against partially acetylated chitosan containing </span><em>N</em>-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues. Chitosanases' structural underpinnings for cleavage specificity and the conformational switch from open to closed structures are still a mystery.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The GH-46 subclass III chitosanase from <span><em>Bacillus circulans</em></span> MH-K1 (MH-K1 chitosanase), which also catalyzes the hydrolysis of GlcN-GlcNAc bonds in addition to GlcN-GlcN, has had its chitotetraose [(GlcN)₄]-complexed crystal structure solved at 1.35 Å resolution.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The MH-K1 chitosanase's (GlcN)₄-bound structure has numerous structural similarities to other GH-46 chitosanases in terms of substrate binding and catalytic processes. However, subsite −1, which is absolutely specific for GlcN, seems to characterize the structure of a subclass III chitosanase due to its distinctive length and angle of a flexible loop. According to a comparison of the (GlcN)₄-bound and apo-form structures, the particular binding of a GlcN residue at subsite −2 through Asp77 causes the backbone helix to kink, which causes the upper- and lower-domains to approach closely when binding a substrate.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Although GH-46 chitosanases vary in the finer details of the subsites defining cleavage specificity, they share similar structural characteristics in substrate-binding, catalytic processes, and potentially in conformational change.</p></div><div><h3>General significance</h3><p>The precise binding of a GlcN residue to the −2 subsite is essential for the conformational shift that occurs in all GH-46 chitosanases, as shown by the crystal structures of the apo- and substrate-bound forms of MH-K1 chitosanase.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139057320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Roxadustat ameliorates experimental colitis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through increasing HIF level","authors":"Guiping Kong ,&nbsp;Hu Hua ,&nbsp;Yan Lu ,&nbsp;Kunlong Yan ,&nbsp;Yucan Zheng ,&nbsp;Zhanjun Jia ,&nbsp;Hongmei Guo ,&nbsp;Mei Li ,&nbsp;Yu Jin ,&nbsp;Zhifeng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Gastro-intestinal (GI) tract inflammation is as a result of inflammatory hypoxia which is also induced by long-standing group of disorders like inflammatory-bowel disease (IBD). Regulation of GI immune homeostasis by macrophage involves hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). As inhibitor of HIF prolyl hydroxylase, roxadustat (ROX) increases the levels of HIF.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We induced experimental colitis (EC) model in mice via dextran-sulfate sodium (DSS) to evaluate ROX role in above-mentioned disease.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>ROX ameliorated EC in mice by blocking colonic length shorten and loss of body weight, thereby reducing scores of disease-activity index (DAI) and histopathology. ROX significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines levels, suppressed M1 and increased M2 macrophage polarization in colonic tissues. Besides, ROX blocked declining hematocrit (HCT) level in blood and increased HIF-1-α and HIF-2-α level in colonic tissues. The inhibitor of HIF-1- α, KC7F2 decreased body weight and colonic length in ROX-treated DSS mice. Meanwhile, DAI scores and histopathology in KC7F2 treated DSS mice were markedly higher than that of treatment with ROX alone. KC7F2 treatments also significantly increased inflammatory cytokines levels, respectively promoted and reduced polarization of M1 and M2 macrophages in colonic tissue from ROX treated mice. Further, KC7F2 treatments inhibited ROX induced HCT level increasing in blood and decreased HIF-1-α and HIF-2-α level in colonic tissue.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Collectively, we discovered that ROX ameliorated EC in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through promotion of HIF expression.</p></div><div><h3>General significance</h3><p>Taken together, we developed a new application of ROX, which provides new ideas and a scientific basis for IBD treatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304416523002465/pdfft?md5=a7103eabf34a223616e8289e27fb9b74&pid=1-s2.0-S0304416523002465-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139057097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DHX33 mediates p53 to regulate mevalonate pathway gene transcription in human cancers","authors":"Guangli Nie ,&nbsp;Shiyun Chen ,&nbsp;Qingzhi Song ,&nbsp;Dongxu Zou ,&nbsp;Maggie Li ,&nbsp;Xiyu Tang ,&nbsp;Yuanlian Deng ,&nbsp;Bizhou Huang ,&nbsp;Mengxia Yang ,&nbsp;Guoqing Lv ,&nbsp;Yandong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Tumor suppressor p53 is frequently null or mutated in human cancers. Here in this study, DHX33 protein was found to be induced in p53 null cells </span><em>in vitro</em>, and in p53 mutant lung tumorigenesis <em>in vivo</em><span><span>. Cholesterol metabolism through </span>mevalonate pathway<span> is pivotal for cell proliferation and is frequently altered in human cancers. Mice carrying mutant p53 and </span></span><em>Kras</em>^G12D<span> alleles showed upregulation of mevalonate pathway gene expression. However upon DHX33 loss, their upregulation was significantly debilitated. Additionally, in many human cancer cells, DHX33 knockdown caused inhibition of mavelonate pathway gene transcription. We propose DHX33 locates downstream of mutant p53 and Ras to regulate mevalonate pathway gene transcription and thereby supports cancer development </span><em>in vivo</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138989780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Photophysical, rotational and translational properties of Radachlorin photosensitizer upon binding to serum albumins","authors":"A.V. Belashov,&nbsp;A.A. Zhikhoreva,&nbsp;I.A. Gorbunova,&nbsp;M.E. Sasin,&nbsp;I.V. Semenova,&nbsp;O.S. Vasyutinskii","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Although photophysical properties of Radachlorin photosensitizer (PS) were extensively studied in solutions and cells, no data is available on variations of its characteristics upon binding to serum albumins, which are major transporters in blood and nutrients in cell culture media.</p></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>The primary objective of this study was to analyze changes in photophysical properties of Radachlorin molecules upon their binding to human and bovine serum albumins at different microenvironment properties.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p><span>Experiments were performed using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Variations in fluorescence spectra and lifetime, </span>fluorescence anisotropy, rotational and translational diffusion of PS molecules upon binding to albumins were studied in normal, basic and acidic conditions and at different concentrations of albumin and PS molecules.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Radachlorin molecules effectively bind to both types of serum albumins, which causes changes in photophysical properties of the PS. A minor red shift of the fluorescence spectrum, an increase in fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy and substantial decrease of translational and rotational mobility of PS molecules were observed upon their binding to albumins. The analysis of rotational diffusion time provided robust evaluation of the bound fraction of PS molecules. Both the highly acidic microenvironment and increase in alcohol concentration above 40% resulted in detachment of PS molecules from albumins. Photophysical properties of Radachlorin in complexes with BSA and HSA were found to be slightly different.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Binding of Radachlorin photosensitizer to either BSA or HSA affects significantly its photophysical properties, which may also vary with microenvironment acidity and alcohol concentration.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139025529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of tumor-associated endothelial cells and the development of a prognostic model in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma","authors":"Jun Wu ,&nbsp;Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Qi Fu ,&nbsp;Zhi Cao ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Ma ,&nbsp;Xun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span>Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by a complex tumor microenvironment. Angiogenesis is of paramount importance in the proliferation and metastasis of PDAC. However, currently, there are no well-defined biomarkers available to guide the prognosis and treatment of PDAC. In this study, we investigated the interactions between tumor-associated endothelial cells (TAECs) and tumor cells in PDAC, and identified a specific subset of TAECs characterized by high expression of COL4A1. COL4A1+ endothelial cells interact with tumor cells through the COLLAGEN </span>signaling pathway<span> to promote tumor cell proliferation<span>, migration, and invasion. We also observed activation of HOXD9 in COL4A1+ endothelial cells. Based on these findings, we developed a prognostic model called TaEMS, which accurately predicts patient prognosis. TaEMS identified high-risk patients enriched in cell cycle-related pathways and low-risk patients enriched in focal adhesions, smooth muscle regulation, and immune pathways. Moreover, high-risk patients displayed a reduced level of </span></span></span>immune cell infiltration, indicating the presence of a “cold tumor” phenotype. Overall, our study uncovered an intricate crosstalk between TAECs and tumor cells in PDAC, emphasizing the role of HOXD9 and highlighting the potential of TaEMS as a prognostic biomarker for precise therapies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139025494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Manipulating epigenetic diversity in crop plants: Techniques, challenges and opportunities","authors":"Vikas Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Shoeb Ahmed ,&nbsp;Dinesh Kumar Saini ,&nbsp;Vijay Gahlaut ,&nbsp;Sunena Chauhan ,&nbsp;Kiran Khandare ,&nbsp;Ashutosh Kumar ,&nbsp;Pradeep Kumar Sharma ,&nbsp;Jitendra Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span><span><span>Epigenetic modifications act as conductors of inheritable alterations in gene expression, all while keeping the </span>DNA sequence<span><span><span> intact, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping plant growth and development<span>. This review article presents an overview of techniques employed to investigate and manipulate epigenetic diversity in crop plants, focusing on both naturally occurring and artificially induced epialleles. The significance of epigenetic modifications in facilitating adaptive responses is explored through the examination of how various biotic and </span></span>abiotic stresses impact them. Further, environmental chemicals are explored for their role in inducing epigenetic changes, particularly focusing on inhibitors of DNA methylation like 5-AzaC and </span>zebularine<span>, as well as inhibitors of histone </span></span></span>deacetylation including </span>trichostatin A<span> and sodium butyrate<span>. The review delves into various approaches for generating epialleles, including tissue culture techniques<span><span>, mutagenesis, and grafting, elucidating their potential to induce heritable epigenetic modifications in plants. In addition, the ground breaking CRISPR/Cas is emphasized for its accuracy in targeting specific epigenetic changes. This presents a potent tools for deciphering the intricacies of </span>epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, the intricate relationship between epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNA expression, including </span></span></span></span>siRNAs<span> and miRNAs, is investigated. The emerging role of exo-RNAi in epigenetic regulation is also introduced, unveiling its promising potential for future applications. The article concludes by addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by these techniques, emphasizing their implications for crop improvement. Conclusively, this extensive review provides valuable insights into the intricate realm of epigenetic changes, illuminating their significance in phenotypic plasticity and their potential in advancing crop improvement.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":8800,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138796679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}