Although biochemically related, C 4 and crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) systems are expected to be incompatible. However, Portulaca species, including P. oleracea, operate C 4 and CAM within a single leaf, and the mechanisms behind this unique photosynthetic arrangement remain largely unknown.Here, we employed RNA-seq to identify candidate genes involved exclusively or shared by C 4 or CAM, and provided an in-depth characterization of their transcript abundance patterns during the drought-induced photosynthetic transitions in P. oleracea. Data revealed fewer candidate CAM-specific genes than those recruited to function in C 4 . The putative CAMspecific genes were predominantly involved in night-time primary carboxylation reactions and malate movement across the tonoplast. Analysis of gene transcript-abundance regulation and photosynthetic physiology indicated that C 4 and CAM coexist within a single P. oleracea leaf under mild drought conditions. Developmental and environmental cues were shown to regulate CAM expression in stems, whereas the shift from C 4 to C 4 -CAM hybrid photosynthesis in leaves was strictly under environmental control. Moreover, efficient starch turnover was identified as part of the metabolic adjustments required for CAM operation in both organs.These findings provide insights into C 4 /CAM connectivity and compatibility, contributing to a deeper understanding of alternative ways to engineer CAM into C 4 crop species.

Portulaca oleracea is a c 4 herb capable of performing cAM under drought stress. it is distributed worldwide and is either considered a polymorphic species or a complex of subspecies, due to its numerous morphological variations. We evaluated cAM plasticity within P. oleracea genotypes since the complexity surrounding this species may be reflected in intraspecific variations in photosynthetic behavior. eleven subspecies of P. oleracea from distant geographical locations and one cultivar were morphologically and physiologically characterized. c 4 and cAM photosynthesis were monitored in plants exposed to well-watered, droughted and rewatered treatments, and data obtained were compared among individual genotypes. All subspecies expressed cAM in a fully-reversible manner. transcript abundance of c 4-cAM signature genes was shown to be a useful indicator of the c 4-cAM-c 4 switches in all genotypes. c 4-related genes were down-regulated and subsequently fully expressed upon drought and rewatering, respectively. cAM-marker genes followed the opposite pattern. A gradient of morphological traits and drought-induced nighttime malate accumulation was observed across genotypes. Therefore, different combinations of CAM expression levels, plant sizes and shapes are available within the P. oleracea complex, which can be a valuable tool in the context of c 4 /cAM photosynthesis research.

Background Since fall 2019, SARS-CoV-2 spread world-wide, causing a major pandemic with estimated ~ 220 million subjects affected as of September 2021. Severe COVID-19 is associated with multiple organ failure, particularly of lung and kidney, but also grave neuropsychiatric manifestations. Overall mortality reaches > 2%. Vaccine development has thrived in thus far unreached dimensions and will be one prerequisite to terminate the pandemic. Despite intensive research, however, few treatment options for modifying COVID-19 course/outcome have emerged since the pandemic outbreak. Additionally, the substantial threat of serious downstream sequelae, called ‘long COVID’ and ‘neuroCOVID’, becomes increasingly evident. Main body of the abstract Among candidates that were suggested but did not yet receive appropriate funding for clinical trials is recombinant human erythropoietin. Based on accumulating experimental and clinical evidence, erythropoietin is expected to (1) improve respiration/organ function, (2) counteract overshooting inflammation, (3) act sustainably neuroprotective/neuroregenerative. Recent counterintuitive findings of decreased serum erythropoietin levels in severe COVID-19 not only support a relative deficiency of erythropoietin in this condition, which can be therapeutically addressed, but also made us coin the term ‘hypoxia paradox’. As we review here, this paradox is likely due to uncoupling of physiological hypoxia signaling circuits, mediated by detrimental gene products of SARS-CoV-2 or unfavorable host responses, including microRNAs or dysfunctional mitochondria. Substitution of erythropoietin might overcome this ‘hypoxia paradox’ caused by deranged signaling and improve survival/functional status of COVID-19 patients and their long-term outcome. As supporting hints, embedded in this review, we present 4 male patients with severe COVID-19 and unfavorable prognosis, including predicted high lethality, who all profoundly improved upon treatment which included erythropoietin analogues. Short conclusion Substitution of EPO may—among other beneficial EPO effects in severe COVID-19—circumvent downstream consequences of the ‘hypoxia paradox’. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial for proof-of-concept is warranted.

Residues like sewage sludge and vinasse have been reused as agricultural fertilizers, but they also present a potential to contaminate soils. Diplopods have been considered excellent bioindicators of soil contamination. In the present study, Rhinocricus padbergi were used to assess toxicity in samples of sewage sludge, biosolids, and sugarcane vinasse. The behavioral analysis, mortality rate, and histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural analyses of the midgut of diplopods were the parameters evaluated. Behaviorally, some diplopods avoided burying themselves after 30 days in soil with biosolid or vinasse. Besides, certain residue combinations were able to cause death of all individuals between 60 and 90 days of exposure. The main tissue responses were significant brush border thickening, induction of epithelial renovation, clustering of hemocytes, accumulation of cytoplasmic granules in hepatic cells, hepatic cells with heteropycnotic nuclei, and cytoplasmic degradation. Alterations were observed at various levels among treatments with different samples and exposure times. Ultrastructural analysis revealed elongation of microvilli coated with a layer of an amorphous substance, resulting in a thicker brush border as observed in the histological analysis. After 30 days of exposure, animals showed an accumulation of spherocrystals in hepatic cells and high absorption of substances, based on the elongation of microvilli. Results obtained in the chemical analysis and the behaviors observed in diplopods suggest that animals processed the residues. Therefore, caution should be exercised in the disposal of these residues in agriculture.