Bark and woody tissue photosynthesis: a means to avoid hypoxia or anoxia in developing stem tissues

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Wittmann ◽  
Hardy Pfanz

In woody plants, oxygen transport and delivery via the xylem sap are well described, but the contribution of bark and woody tissue photosynthesis to oxygen delivery in stems is poorly understood. Here, we combined stem chlorophyll fluorescence measurements with microsensor quantifications of bark O2 levels and oxygen gas exchange measurements of isolated current-year stem tissues of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) to investigate how bark and woody tissue photosynthesis impairs the oxygen status of stems. Measurements were made before bud break, when the axial path of oxygen supply via the xylem sap is impeded. At that time, bark O2 levels showed O2 concentrations below the atmospheric concentration, indicating hypoxic conditions or O2 deficiency within the inner bark, but the values were always far away from anoxic. Under illumination bark and woody tissue photosynthesis rapidly increased internal oxygen concentrations compared with plants in the dark, and thereby counteracted against localised hypoxia. The highest photosynthetic activity and oxygen release rates were found in the outermost cortex tissues. By contrast, rates of woody tissue photosynthesis were considerably lower, due to the high light attenuation of the bark and cortex tissues, as well as resistances in radial oxygen diffusion. Therefore, our results confirm that bark and woody tissue photosynthesis not only play a role in plant carbon economy, but may also be important for preventing low oxygen-limitations of respiration in these dense and metabolically active tissues.

Author(s):  
Rashmi Kumari ◽  
Vasumathy R ◽  
Dhanya Sunil ◽  
Raghumani Singh Ningthoujam ◽  
Badri Narain Pandey ◽  
...  

AbstractThe bioreductive enzymes typically upregulated in hypoxic tumor cells can be targeted for developing diagnostic and drug delivery applications. In this study, a new fluorescent probe 4−(6−nitro−1,3−dioxo−1H−benzo[de]isoquinolin−2(3H)−yl)benzaldehyde (NIB) based on a nitronaphthalimide skeleton that could respond to nitroreductase (NTR) overexpressed in hypoxic tumors is designed and its application in imaging tumor hypoxia is demonstrated. The docking studies revealed favourable interactions of NIB with the binding pocket of NTR-Escherichia coli. NIB, which is synthesized through a simple and single step imidation of 4−nitro−1,8−naphthalic anhydride displayed excellent reducible capacity under hypoxic conditions as evidenced from cyclic voltammetry investigations. The fluorescence measurements confirmed the formation of identical products (NIB-red) during chemical as well as NTR−aided enzymatic reduction in the presence of NADH. The potential fluorescence imaging of hypoxia based on NTR-mediated reduction of NIB is confirmed using in-vitro cell culture experiments using human breast cancer (MCF−7) cells, which displayed a significant change in the fluorescence colour and intensity at low NIB concentration within a short incubation period in hypoxic conditions. Graphical abstract


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2809
Author(s):  
Paolo Uva ◽  
Maria Carla Bosco ◽  
Alessandra Eva ◽  
Massimo Conte ◽  
Alberto Garaventa ◽  
...  

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the deadliest pediatric cancers, accounting for 15% of deaths in childhood. Hypoxia is a condition of low oxygen tension occurring in solid tumors and has an unfavorable prognostic factor for NB. In the present study, we aimed to identify novel promising drugs for NB treatment. Connectivity Map (CMap), an online resource for drug repurposing, was used to identify connections between hypoxia-modulated genes in NB tumors and compounds. Two sets of 34 and 21 genes up- and down-regulated between hypoxic and normoxic primary NB tumors, respectively, were analyzed with CMap. The analysis reported a significant negative connectivity score across nine cell lines for 19 compounds mainly belonging to the class of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors. The gene expression profiles of NB cells cultured under hypoxic conditions and treated with the mTORC complex inhibitor PP242, referred to as the Mohlin dataset, was used to validate the CMap findings. A heat map representation of hypoxia-modulated genes in the Mohlin dataset and the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed an opposite regulation of these genes in the set of NB cells treated with the mTORC inhibitor PP242. In conclusion, our analysis identified inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as novel candidate compounds to treat NB patients with hypoxic tumors and a poor prognosis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 208 (4) ◽  
pp. 998-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurits W. Vandegehuchte ◽  
Jasper Bloemen ◽  
Lidewei L. Vergeynst ◽  
Kathy Steppe

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (14) ◽  
pp. 4959-4971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-ki Park ◽  
Agnes M. Dadak ◽  
Volker H. Haase ◽  
Lucrezia Fontana ◽  
Amato J. Giaccia ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The hypoxia-inducible factors 1α (HIF-1α) and 2α (HIF-2α) have extensive structural homology and have been identified as key transcription factors responsible for gene expression in response to hypoxia. They play critical roles not only in normal development, but also in tumor progression. Here we report on the differential regulation of protein expression and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α and -2α by hypoxia in immortalized mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). We show that oxygen-dependent protein degradation is restricted to HIF-1α, as HIF-2α protein is detected in MEFs regardless of oxygenation and is localized primarily to the cytoplasm. Endogenous HIF-2α remained transcriptionally inactive under hypoxic conditions; however, ectopically overexpressed HIF-2α translocated into the nucleus and could stimulate expression of hypoxia-inducible genes. We show that the factor inhibiting HIF-1 can selectively inhibit the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α but has no effect on HIF-2α-mediated transcription in MEFs. We propose that HIF-2α is not a redundant transcription factor of HIF-1α for hypoxia-induced gene expression and show evidence that there is a cell type-specific modulator(s) that enables selective activation of HIF-1α but not HIF-2α in response to low-oxygen stress.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Quick ◽  
Giulio Curioni ◽  
Phillip J Blaen ◽  
Stefan Krause ◽  
Angus Robert MacKenzie

<p>Extreme anthropogenic global change, such as increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, can challenge long-lived organisms including trees. Carbon uptake by trees, during photosynthesis, is inevitably accompanied by leaf transpiration; elevated atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> is, therefore, expected to reduce daytime plant water usage. The Free-Air Carbon-dioxide Enhancement (FACE) experiment at the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) UK manipulates atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> in a 150 year old mixed deciduous temperate forest. In the sub-project described here, we compare diurnal and seasonal plant-water dynamics from individual trees under treatment (elevated CO<sub>2</sub>) and control conditions<sub>.</sub> Response of Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), as the dominant tree species, is reported for the initial three years of elevated CO<sub>2</sub>, enabling us to characterise whether the woodland is starting to adapt. Xylem sap flux measurement reflects tree water usage and has been used as a proxy for transpiration at stand scale in forest experiments. This project explores a modified sap flux analysis approach, enabling individual trees to be compared and responses to be scaled up to treatment patch level. It considers: inputs-outputs (e.g. precipitation, transpiration), water flow (e.g. xylem sap flux), temperature and radiation to see how tree-soil-water interfaces behave and change with increased CO<sub>2. </sub>Measurement methods include spot observations (phenology, porometry), and data-logged measures (e.g. of soil moisture and xylem flow). Initially sap flux and stomatal conductance are considered in comparison with previous reported studies of tree water use efficiency and estimations of water storage. By considering these key measurements driven by a tree-centred view the results provide valuable data to improve vegetation, soil and landscape models and increase understanding of trees in mature future- forest environments.</p>


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Cockcroft

Faunal mass mortalities are a sporadic, but not uncommon, feature of the West and South coasts of South Africa. Five mass mortalities of West Coast rock lobsterJasus lalandii, including three of the most severe ever recorded in South Africa, occurred in the 1990s and resulted in the stranding of about 2263 tonnes of lobster. The bulk (97%) of the loss occurred in the last three years of the decade. The five events occurred within an 80 km stretch of coastline that straddled two fishing zones and resulted from hypoxic conditions associated with highbiomass dinoflagellate blooms. In each case, the quantity of lobsters stranded was directly related to the extent or duration of low-oxygen conditions. Small females constituted the bulk of the lobster stranded in most events. The lobster fisheries in the affected fishing zones suffered severe impacts. Recovery in one zone appears to be extremely slow, whereas the other zone is more resilient. Not only would a continuation of the trend of increasing frequency and severity of lobster strandings devastate the rock-lobster fishing industry and the employment prospects of small fishing communities, but it could also seriously affect the ecology of the region.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje Egners ◽  
Merve Erdem ◽  
Thorsten Cramer

Lack of oxygen (hypoxia) is a hallmark of a multitude of acute and chronic diseases and can be either beneficial or detrimental for organ restitution and recovery. In the context of inflammation, hypoxia is particularly important and can significantly influence the course of inflammatory diseases. Macrophages and neutrophils, the chief cellular components of innate immunity, display distinct properties when exposed to hypoxic conditions. Virtually every aspect of macrophage and neutrophil function is affected by hypoxia, amongst others, morphology, migration, chemotaxis, adherence to endothelial cells, bacterial killing, differentiation/polarization, and protumorigenic activity. Prominent arenas of macrophage and neutrophil function, for example, acute/chronic inflammation and the microenvironment of solid tumors, are characterized by low oxygen levels, demonstrating the paramount importance of the hypoxic response for proper function of these cells. Members of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) family emerged as pivotal molecular regulators of macrophages and neutrophils. In this review, we will summarize the molecular responses of macrophages and neutrophils to hypoxia in the context of cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases and discuss the potential avenues for therapeutic intervention that arise from this knowledge.


2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Chul Jang ◽  
Kyoungsoon Shin ◽  
Pung-Guk Jang ◽  
Woo-Jin Lee ◽  
Keun-Hyung Choi

A 2-year survey of seawater chemistry and mesozooplankton abundance was carried out in Masan Bay, South Korea, one of the most eutrophic coastal ecosystems known. The study aimed to identify the major factors contributing to the seasonally persistent hypoxia in the bay, to characterise the Bay’s mesozooplankton community and to examine the effects of low oxygen on the distribution of mesozooplankton. Hypoxia (<2mgO2L–1) was present only in summer, with ultrahypoxia (<0.2mg O2 L–1) in the bottom waters of the inner bay in both years. Low summer oxygen can be attributed to high summer phytoplankton stocks, together with reduced oxygen solubility at high temperature and stratification of the water column that limits downward diffusion of oxygen. A seasonally and spatially distinct mesozooplankton community was identified in summer when there was greater influence of freshwater discharge in the inner bay. Marine cladocerans were very abundant, with a population outburst of Penilia avirostris in the inner bay (>4000 individuals m–3) during summer. During hypoxic events, the abundance of Penilia avirostris was positively related to oxygen levels in the bottom water, suggesting that hypoxic conditions may cause mortality or have sublethal negative effects on population growth of this filter-feeding cladoceran.


Author(s):  
Eleftherios A. Makris ◽  
Jerry Hu ◽  
Kyriacos A. Athanasiou

The poor ability of articular cartilage to repair following disease and injury makes the tissue a key target for reparative and regenerative medicine strategies. It has been shown that human knee joint resides under hypoxic conditions. Oxygen tension in healthy human synovium is between 7 and 11% and in articular cartilage may therefore be as low as 1–2.5% [1].


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