{"title":"The DNA binding of plant-specific GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR transcription factors is stabilized by GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR coactivators.","authors":"Shohei Nosaki, Masae Ohtsuka","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf016","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The plant-specific GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) transcription factor family proteins play crucial role in regulating diverse aspects of plant life. The transcriptional activity of GRFs is known to be enhanced through direct interaction with the GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF) coactivators. However, it remains unclear how the binding to GIF affects the biochemical ability of GRFs. Herein, we present evidence that GIFs also stabilize the DNA binding of GRFs. A combination of biochemical experiments and AlphaFold-predicted structural models suggests that the GIF-binding domain in GRFs may partially restrict their own DNA binding through direct interaction with the DNA-binding domain in the absence of GIFs. These findings deepen our understanding of the GRF:GIF module in plant regulation and provide a basis for strategies to manipulate this module for agricultural and biotechnological applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"761-768"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143188381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"NPD7426 suppresses sterol regulatory element-binding proteins by promoting the degradation of mature SREBP forms.","authors":"Manami Kodaka, Yuki Matsunaga, Seiya Terada, Minami Kamei, Tsukasa Suzuki, Yuji Yamamoto, Jun Inoue","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf012","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors that regulate various genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis, playing a central role in lipid metabolism regulation in vivo. SREBP-1c activity is significantly elevated in the liver under conditions of obesity, fatty liver disease, and type II diabetes, while suppression of SREBP-1c activity has been shown to alleviate these symptoms. Consequently, targeting SREBP-1c activity is considered a potential therapeutic approach for these conditions. In this study, we identified NPD7426 as a compound with inhibitory effects on SREBP activity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that NPD7426 promotes the proteasome-mediated degradation of mature SREBP protein forms. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of SREBP activity suppression by small-molecule compounds containing NPD7426, suggesting that NPD7426 may be a promising candidate for the development of therapeutic drugs targeting SREBPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"704-711"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143122043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of trans-to-cis isomerization of cinnamic acid in Arabidopsis using stable-isotope-labeled cinnamic acid.","authors":"Kei Tsuzuki, Taiki Suzuki, Kotaro Nishiyama, Yoshiya Seto","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf019","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cinnamic acid (CA) is a widely distributed metabolite in plant species and is a precursor of many important plant molecules such as lignin and flavonoids. CA exists as both trans and cis isomers; the trans isomer is more common in nature. Previous reports have revealed that the cis isomer of CA (cis-CA) has auxin-like activity when exogenously applied. Moreover, cis-CA was found as an endogenous compound in planta. Here, we report the chemical synthesis of stable-isotope-labeled trans- and cis-CA. Using these labeled compounds as internal standards, we developed a quantification method of CA using liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We identified cis-CA in diverse plant species, including liverwort, moss, and lycophyte, implying an important role of cis-CA in the terrestrial plant kingdom.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"743-749"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Validation of machine learning-assisted screening of PKC ligands: PKC binding affinity and activation.","authors":"Jumpei Maki, Asami Oshimura, Yudai Shiotani, Maki Yamanaka, Sogen Okuda, Ryo C Yanagita, Shigeru Kitani, Yasuhiro Igarashi, Yutaka Saito, Yasubumi Sakakibara, Chihiro Tsukano, Kazuhiro Irie","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf008","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases, and PKC ligands have the potential to be therapeutic seeds for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, in addition to desired therapeutic effects, most PKC ligands also exhibit undesirable pro-inflammatory effects. The discovery of new scaffolds for PKC ligands is important for developing less inflammatory PKC ligands, such as bryostatins. We previously reported that machine learning combined with our knowledge of the pharmacophore yielded 15 PKC ligand candidates, but we did not evaluate their PKC binding affinities fully. In this paper, PKC binding affinities of four candidates were examined to assess their potential as PKC ligands and to validate machine learning-assisted screening. Although compound 3' did not bind to PKC C1 domains, 1a, 2', and 4a exhibited moderate PKC binding affinities, suggesting that machine learning-assisted screening is advantageous in identifying new PKC ligand scaffolds.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"668-679"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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 l-2-keto-3-deoxyrhamnonate 4-dehydrogenase involved in the non-phosphorylating pathway of l-rhamnose metabolism by bacteria.","authors":"Miyu Akagashi, Seiya Watanabe","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf015","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the non-phosphorylative l-rhamnose and l-fucose pathways in bacteria, the C4-OH groups of the l-2-keto-3-deoxyrhamnonate (l-KDR) and l-2-keto-3-deoxyfuconate (l-KDF) intermediates are oxidized by different NAD+-dependent dehydrogenases, which belong to the same superfamily: l-KDRDH and l-KDFDH, respectively. To further elucidate their opposite stereospecificities, we herein investigated the crystal structures of l-KDRDH (from Herbaspirillum huttiense) in ligand-free and NAD+-bound forms. The interactions between the side chains of Asp39 and Gln18, and the 2'- and/or 3'-hydroxyl group(s) of NAD+ were consistent with strict specificity for NAD+. In a binding model for the substrate, Asn151 and Arg247 interacted with the C1 carboxyl and/or C5 hydroxyl group(s) of l-KDR with the acrylic α-keto form, which differed from l-KDFDH, which recognizes l-KDF with the cyclic hemiketal. A comparison of gene clusters on the bacterial genome and biochemical characterization suggested that l-KDRDH functions as a novel 4-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate dehydrogenase in the degradation of aromatic compounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"733-742"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143188380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oregano leaf odor regulates sodium chloride consumption in mice.","authors":"Kazumi Osada, Nanako Akiyama, Akira Hosono, Motoko Ohata, Issei Yokoyama, Sadaharu Miyazono, Michio Komai","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores how the odor of oregano and its active component, carvacrol, influence salt preference in mice. Using a 2-bottle choice test (distilled water vs 0.15 m NaCl), 66 C57BL/6J mice were exposed to oregano odor. Female mice showed a significant reduction in saline intake with oregano or carvacrol exposure, while the effect was lower in males. Carvacrol was identified in dried oregano using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). Neurologically, oregano odor increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, a region regulating salt appetite. These results suggest that oregano odor decreases salt preference, partly due to carvacrol, which stimulates brain areas controlling salt appetite. This study highlights the role of olfactory cues in modulating dietary behavior and suggests potential applications for managing salt consumption in health contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"776-786"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143424951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synthesis and characterization of thermally stable and water-soluble pantetheine trisulfide and its composites.","authors":"Shoichiro Tomonaga, Hiroaki Ishimaru, Shizuki Misada, Takahiro Isobe, Etsuo Ohshima, Shinji Kitagaki","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf010","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We clarified for the first time the synthesis procedure and characterization of pantetheine trisulfide, a potential new drug. Pantetheine trisulfide is the first supersulfur compound with both thermal stability and water solubility. Its hygroscopicity and deliquescence promote the hydrolysis of trisulfide, but these limitations are overcome by powdered composites of pantetheine trisulfide with silica gel or lactose.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"687-692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143063727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synthesis of (S)-4-methylgeranyl esters, the pheromone components of the ponerine ant, Holcoponera striatula, and their (R)-isomers.","authors":"Takuya Tashiro, Hiroyuki Watanabe","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(2E,4S)-3,4,7-Trimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl octanoate [(S)-1], decanoate [(S)-2], and dodecanoate [(S)-3] are the main trail pheromone components of the Dufour's gland secretion of the ponerine ant, Holcoponera striatula. We synthesized these pheromone components from an optically active alcohol, (R)-5, by using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement reaction as the key step for constructing a methyl-branched alkyl chain. The alcohol (R)-5 was prepared by using the enzymatic resolution of its racemate. To investigate the biological activity of the enantiomers of these pheromone components, we synthesized the antipodes (R)-1, (R)-2, and (R)-3.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"680-686"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143555833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modification of intracellular metabolism by expression of a C-terminal variant of phosphoribulokinase from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.","authors":"Hiroki Nishiguchi, Teppei Niide, Yoshihiro Toya, Hiroshi Shimizu","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf013","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phosphoribulokinase (PRK) is a key enzyme in the Calvin cycle of cyanobacteria required for CO2 fixation and enhancing intracellular PRK activity will contribute to altering the metabolic state. In Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, PRK activity is inhibited by the small protein CP12 and intramolecular disulfide bonds in its C-terminal loop. This study aimed to increase PRK activity by expressing a mutant PRK where inhibitory Cys residues (positions 229 and 235) in the C-terminal loop were replaced with Ser. The engineered strain showed increased PRK activity under photomixotrophic conditions. Metabolomic analysis revealed that this strain accumulates organic acids downstream of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, highlighting its potential for producing chemicals using these metabolites as precursors. These findings suggest that preventing disulfide bond formation in the PRK C-terminal loop enhances its activity, providing a promising approach for metabolic engineering in cyanobacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"720-727"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143122039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhongyi Yang, Ruhai Gong, Yoshiharu Mimata, Shaosong Ye, Wei Ji, Wenxiu Ye
{"title":"Malate inhibits light-induced stomatal opening through SLAC1- and G-proteins mediated pathway in grapevine and Arabidopsis.","authors":"Zhongyi Yang, Ruhai Gong, Yoshiharu Mimata, Shaosong Ye, Wei Ji, Wenxiu Ye","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf011","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A key tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolite, malate, accumulates in leaves during dehydration and induces stomatal closure by recruiting cytosolic Ca2+, activating SLOW ANION CHANNEL-ASSOCIATED 1 (SLAC1), and promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the effects of malate on stomatal opening and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our study revealed that, among TCA cycle metabolites, malate specifically inhibited light-induced stomatal opening in both grapevine and Arabidopsis. We demonstrated that SLAC1 was required for malate's inhibitory effects. The inhibition by malate was disrupted by Ca2+ signaling inhibitors. Additionally, the malate signal was mediated by G-proteins, which regulate the production of second messengers. ROS production was abolished when G-proteins were inhibited. These findings show that malate efficiently maintains stomatal closure by not only inducing stomatal closure but also inhibiting stomatal opening. The inhibition of stomatal opening by malate is mediated through the activation of SLAC1 and the G-protein signaling cascade.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"693-703"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143073844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}