Perception of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) elicits transcriptional reprogramming in hosts and activates defense to pathogen attacks. The molecular mechanisms underlying plant pattern-triggered immunity remain elusive. A genetic screen identified Arabidopsis poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase 1 (atparg1) mutant with elevated immune gene expression upon multiple MAMP and pathogen treatments. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) is predicted to remove poly(ADP-ribose) polymers on acceptor proteins modified by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) with three PARPs and two PARGs in Arabidopsis genome. AtPARP1 and AtPARP2 possess poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity, and the activity of AtPARP2 was enhanced by MAMP treatment. AtPARG1, but not AtPARG2, carries glycohydrolase activity in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, mutation (G450R) in atparg1 blocks its activity and the corresponding residue is highly conserved and essential for human HsPARG activity. Consistently, mutant atparp1atparp2 plants exhibited compromised immune gene activation and enhanced susceptibility to pathogen infections. Our study indicates that protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation plays critical roles in plant immune gene expression and defense to pathogen attacks.

Precise control of cell death is essential for the survival of all organisms. Arabidopsis thaliana BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-associated receptor kinase 1 (BAK1) and somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 4 (SERK4) redundantly and negatively regulate cell death through elusive mechanisms. By deploying a genetic screen for suppressors of cell death triggered by virus-induced gene silencing of BAK1/SERK4 on Arabidopsis knockout collections, we identified STT3a, a protein involved in N-glycosylation modification, as an important regulator of bak1/serk4 cell death. Systematic investigation of glycosylation pathway and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control (ERQC) components revealed distinct and overlapping mechanisms of cell death regulated by BAK1/SERK4 and their interacting protein BIR1. Genomewide transcriptional analysis revealed the activation of members of cysteine-rich receptor-like kinase (CRK) genes in the bak1/serk4 mutant. Ectopic expression of CRK4 induced STT3a/N-glycosylation-dependent cell death in Arabidopsis and Nicotiana benthamiana. Therefore, N-glycosylation and specific ERQC components are essential to activate bak1/serk4 cell death, and CRK4 is likely to be among client proteins of protein glycosylation involved in BAK1/SERK4-regulated cell death.

Summary Perception of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) elicits host transcriptional reprogramming as part of the immune response. Although pathogen perception is well studied, the signaling networks orchestrating immune gene expression remain less clear. In a genetic screen for components involved in the early immune gene transcription reprogramming, we identified Arabidopsis RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphatase-like 3 (CPL3) as a negative regulator of immune gene expression. MAMP perception induced rapid and transient cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKC)-mediated phosphorylation of Arabidopsis CTD. The CDKCs, which are in-turn phosphorylated and activated by a canonical MAP kinase (MAPK) cascade, represent a point of signaling convergence downstream of multiple immune receptors. CPL3 directly dephosphorylated CTD to counteract MAPK-mediated CDKC regulation. Thus, modulation of the phosphorylation dynamics of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II transcription machinery by MAPKs, CTD kinases and phosphatases constitutes an essential mechanism for rapid orchestration of host immune gene expression and defense upon pathogen attacks.

Aim: To evaluate, in a short-time exposure, the physiological responses of Salvinia auriculata Aubl. under different concentrations of Cu. Methods: The plants were exposed to treatments with 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mM of Cu in a period of 2 days. Then development variables of S. auriculata (weight, photosynthetic pigments, and soluble carbohydrate), lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, aldehydes, and electrolyte leakage) and production of antioxidants (anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and proline) were evaluated. Results: It was observed fresh weight reductions in concentrations above 1 mM of Cu. Chlorophyll a decreased with the increase of Cu concentrations unlike chlorophyll b. The ratio chlorophyll a / chlorophyll b was changed due to the degradation of photosynthetic pigments. The reductions of carotenoids were more pronounced than that of total chlorophyll. The values of electrolyte leakage ranged from 14 to 82 % and lipid peroxidation from 7 to 46 nmol.g -1. Flavonoids and soluble carbohydrates showed reductions with the increase of Cu concentration. Anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and proline when subjected to 0.1 mM of Cu had increased, suggesting adaptability of plant stress caused directly by metal and reactive oxygen species. In higher concentrations, degradation and/or direct modifications of these molecules possibly occurred. Conclusions: The data suggest that S. auriculata is provided with an efficient mechanism against stress caused by Cu in the concentration of 0.1 mM. As for higher concentrations (1 and 10 mM), despite its role as micronutrients, Cu was toxic to the plant due to the redox behavior of this metal, which leads to the exacerbated formation of reactive oxygen species, inducing to severe damage such as biological membrane degradation and protein denaturation.Keywords: lipid peroxidation, antioxidant, proline, metal stress.Resumo: Objetivo: avaliar em curto tempo de exposição às respostas fisiológicas de Salvinia auriculata Aubl. sob diferentes concentrações de Cu. Métodos: as plantas foram expostas a tratamentos com 0,0; 0,01; 0,1; 1 e 10 mM de Cu em um período de 2 dias. Em seguida foram avaliadas variáveis de desenvolvimento de S. auriculata (peso, pigmentos fotossintéticos e carboidratos solúveis), peroxidação lipídica (malonaldeído, aldeídos e extravasamento de eletrólitos) e produção de antioxidantes (antocianinas, carotenóides, flavonóides e prolina). Resultados: Foram verificadas reduções das massas frescas nas concentrações acima de 1 mM de Cu. A clorofila a reduziu com o aumento da concentração de Cu, diferentemente da clorofila b. A razão clorofila a/clorofila b foi alterada, devido à degradação dos pigmentos fotossintéticos. As reduções dos carotenóides foram mais acentuada do que a de clorofila total. Os valores de extravasamento de eletrólitos variaram de 14 a 82 % e peroxidação lipídica de 7 a 46 nmol.g -1. Flavonóides e carboidratos solúveis mostraram reduções com o aumento da concentração de Cu. Antocianinas, compostos fenólicos e prolina quando submetida...

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a plant-growth-promoting bacterium, which is able to colonize sugarcane and other plant species of economic importance. The potentially beneficial effects promoted by this bacterium on plants are nitrogen-fixation, production of phythormones, action against pathogens and mineral nutrient solubilization. In this study, the molecular mechanisms associated with phosphorus and zinc solubilization were analyzed. A transposon mutant library was constructed and screened to select for mutants defective for phosphorous [Ca(5)(PO(4))(3)OH] and zinc (ZnO) solubilization. A total of five mutants were identified in each screen. Both screenings, performed independently, allowed to select the same mutants. The interrupted gene in each mutant was identified by sequencing and the results demonstrate that the production of gluconic acid is a required pathway for solubilization of such nutrients in G. diazotrophicus.

INTRODUÇÃOO lodo de esgoto tem um alto potencial de riscos à saúde pública, ao ambiente e à proliferação de vetores de moléstias e organismos nocivos [1]. O lodo de estação de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) gera uma grande quantidade de resíduo devido a restos metabólicos do homem que não se desintegram com o tratamento [2]. A característica do lodo de ETE é resultante do tratamento a que é submetido que pode ser químico, físico e/ou biológico [3]. A causa para o aumento da produção de resíduos sólidos gerados pelo homem e dos danos provocados ao meio ambiente está na falta de políticas gerenciais, tecnologias de reuso e educação ambiental que levem à disposição adequada dos mesmos [4].Dentre as principais formas de disposição do lodo de ETE se destacam a incineração, disposição em aterros sanitários e uso agrícola. Em países da Europa e da América do Norte, o lodo de tratamento de esgoto geralmente é incinerado e depositado em aterros sanitários ou utilizado em áreas agrícolas. No Brasil, é comum o lodo de ETE ser descartado em lixões a céu aberto ou em aterros sanitários. Trabalhos vêm sendo feitos para modificar esta situação a partir de ações preventivas de redução e reciclagem.A reciclagem destes materiais é de grande interesse para as indústrias, principalmente devido às exigências dos órgãos ambientais. Uma das práticas estudadas para destinação correta destes resíduos tem sido a utilização em materiais da construção civil, como blocos de vedação e telhas à base Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602 oraisabela@gmail.com, vieira@uenf.br, rosane.toledo@gmail.com, aline_intorne@yahoo.com.br Resumo Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a incorporação de resíduo de estação de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) na produção de cerâmica vermelha. As matérias-primas utilizadas foram: massa cerâmica argilosa e resíduo de ETE provenientes do município de Campos dos Goytacazes -RJ. As matérias-primas foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de fluorescência de raios X e difração de raios X; além disso, foi determinada a área de superfície específica das mesmas por meio das técnicas de BET e azul de metileno. O comportamento térmico do resíduo de ETE foi avaliado por meio de análise termogravimétrica. Formulações foram preparadas com 0, 2,5, 10 e 15% em massa de resíduo de ETE incorporados à massa argilosa. Corpos de prova foram confeccionados por prensagem uniaxial a 20 MPa com 8% de umidade para calcinação a 950 °C. As propriedades físicas e mecânicas avaliadas das cerâmicas calcinadas foram retração linear, absorção de água e resistência à compressão. A microestrutura destas peças foi investigada com auxílio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados indicaram que este tipo de resíduo deve ser incorporado em pequenas quantidades (até 2,5%) para não prejudicar as propriedades físicas e mecânicas da cerâmica. Palavras-chave: resíduo de ETE, reciclagem, cerâmica vermelha. Abstract

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Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) represent a promising alternative to the massive use of industrial fertilizers in agriculture. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a PGPB that colonizes several plant species. Although this bacterium is able to grow at high sucrose concentrations, its response to environmental stresses is poorly understood. The present study evaluated G. diazotrophicus PAL5 response to stresses caused by sucrose, PEG 400, NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4 and K2SO4. Morphological, ultrastructural and cell growth analysis revealed that G. diazotrophicus PAL5 is more sensitive to salt than osmotic stress. Growth inhibition and strong morphological changes were caused by salinity, in consequence of Cl ion-specific toxic effect. Interestingly, low osmotic stress levels were beneficial for bacterial multiplication, which was able to tolerate high sucrose concentrations, Na2SO4 and K2SO4. Our data show that G. diazotrophicus PAL5 has differential response to osmotic and salinity stress, which may influence its use as inoculant in saline environments.