Plant architecture is determined by genetic and developmental programs as well as by environmental factors. Sessile plants have evolved a subtle adaptive mechanism that allows them to alter their growth and development during periods of stress. Phytohormones play a central role in this process; however, the molecules responsible for integrating growth-and stressrelated signals are unknown. Here, we report a gain-of-function rice (Oryza sativa) mutant, tld1-D, characterized by (and named for) an increased number of tillers, enlarged leaf angles, and dwarfism. TLD1 is a rice GH3.13 gene that encodes indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-amido synthetase, which is suppressed in aboveground tissues under normal conditions but which is dramatically induced by drought stress. The activation of TLD1 reduced the IAA maxima at the lamina joint, shoot base, and nodes, resulting in subsequent alterations in plant architecture and tissue patterning but enhancing drought tolerance. Accordingly, the decreased level of free IAA in tld1-D due to the conjugation of IAA with amino acids greatly facilitated the accumulation of late-embryogenesis abundant mRNA compared with the wild type. The direct regulation of such drought-inducible genes by changes in the concentration of IAA provides a model for changes in plant architecture via the process of drought adaptation, which occurs frequently in nature.

High salinity causes growth inhibition and shoot bleaching in plants that do not tolerate high salt (glycophytes), including most crops. The molecules affected directly by salt and linking the extracellular stimulus to intracellular responses remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that rice (Oryza sativa) Salt Intolerance 1 (SIT1), a lectin receptor-like kinase expressed mainly in root epidermal cells, mediates salt sensitivity. NaCl rapidly activates SIT1, and in the presence of salt, as SIT1 kinase activity increased, plant survival decreased. Rice MPK3 and MPK6 function as the downstream effectors of SIT1. SIT1 phosphorylates MPK3 and 6, and their activation by salt requires SIT1. SIT1 mediates ethylene production and salt-induced ethylene signaling. SIT1 promotes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to growth inhibition and plant death under salt stress, which occurred in an MPK3/6-and ethylene signaling-dependent manner in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our findings demonstrate the existence of a SIT1-MPK3/6 cascade that mediates salt sensitivity by affecting ROS and ethylene homeostasis and signaling. These results provide important information for engineering salt-tolerant crops.

No abstract

Cytosolic DNA activates cGAS (cytosolic DNA sensor cyclic AMP-GMP synthase)-STING (stimulator of interferon genes) signaling, which triggers interferon and inflammatory responses that help defend against microbial infection and cancer. However, aberrant cytosolic self-DNA in Aicardi–Goutière’s syndrome and constituently active gain-of-function mutations in STING in STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) patients lead to excessive type I interferons and proinflammatory cytokines, which cause difficult-to-treat and sometimes fatal autoimmune disease. Here, in silico docking identified a potent STING antagonist SN-011 that binds with higher affinity to the cyclic dinucleotide (CDN)-binding pocket of STING than endogenous 2′3′-cGAMP. SN-011 locks STING in an open inactive conformation, which inhibits interferon and inflammatory cytokine induction activated by 2′3′-cGAMP, herpes simplex virus type 1 infection, Trex1 deficiency, overexpression of cGAS-STING, or SAVI STING mutants. In Trex1−/− mice, SN-011 was well tolerated, strongly inhibited hallmarks of inflammation and autoimmunity disease, and prevented death. Thus, a specific STING inhibitor that binds to the STING CDN-binding pocket is a promising lead compound for STING-driven disease.

We demonstrate a flexible, electrowetting-driven, variable-focus liquid microlens. The microlens is fabricated using a soft polymer polydimethylsiloxane. The lens can be smoothly wrapped onto a curved surface. A low-temperature fabrication process was developed to reduce the stress on and to avoid any damage to the polymer. The focal length of the microlens varies between À15.0 mm to þ28.0 mm, depending on the applied voltage. The resolving power of the microlens is 25.39 line pairs per mm using a 1951 United States Air Force resolution chart. The typical response time of the lens is around 50 ms. V C 2012 American Institute of Physics.[http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4726038]Microlenses are important components in modern miniaturized optical systems.1-9 Among these microlenses, emerging liquid-based variable-focus microlenses are of special importance, because they do not require complicated mechanical systems to adjust optical performance, and they are widely used in photonics, display and biomedical systems.1-4 Meanwhile, microlenses made on flexible and curved substrates could have significant advantages over microlenses on flat substrates in improving the field of view (FOV) 5,6 and creating three-dimensional (3-D) effect. 7,8 For example, microlenses have been fabricated on spherical surfaces as artificial compound eyes.9,10 Current microlenses can be either tunable in focus [1][2][3][4] or made on curved surfaces, 9,11 but not both. Pressure-based variable-focus microlenses require an external mechanical control system and are difficult to be extended to a lens array.12 Tunable lenses based on phase modulation have relatively small magnitude of change in the focal length due to material properties. 13 It was previously reported that variablefocus liquid microlenses actuated by thermo-sensitive hydrogel could be formed on curved surfaces.6 However, they have complicated structures and suffer long response time due to their actuation mechanisms. Robustness and quick response are both of importance to any optical system. Benefitting from short response time, low electrical power consumption, compact structure and the robustness under voltage cycling, electrowetting-driven liquid microlenses have drawn much attention and have been commercialized. 1,14-16 However, traditional electrowetting microlenses are normally fabricated on rigid substrates, such as glass, silicon, and polyethylene terephthalate, 1,14-17 and are consequently not compatible with curved surfaces. Flexible electrowetting microlenses could bring electrowetting lenses into a broader field of applications.Here, we present an electrowetting-driven liquid microlens fabricated on a flexible polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The lens has a thin soft polymer substrate, which can be smoothly wrapped on a curved surface, e.g., spherical or cylindrical surfaces. As demonstration, a lens has been made on the surface of a contact lens to show its flexibility. We also describe the processing steps and the materials used for a low-temperature fabrication pr...

Iron is an essential trace element for the human body, and its deficiency or excess can induce a variety of biological processes. Plenty of evidences have shown that iron metabolism is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. In addition, iron plays an important role in cell death, which is very important for the development of potential strategies for tumor treatment. Here, we reviewed the latest research about iron metabolism disorders in various types of tumors, the functions and properties of iron in ferroptosis and ferritinophagy, and new opportunities for iron-based on treatment methods for tumors, providing more information regarding the prevention and treatment of tumors.

No abstract

No abstract