Silencing of Mannitol Transporter Gene In Phelipanche Aegyptiaca Reduces The Parasite Development On The Host Root

Parasitic weed Phelipanche aegyptiaca, is an obligate plant parasite which causes severe damage to host crops. Agriculture crops mainly belong to Brassicaceae, Leguminosae, Cruciferae and Solanaceae plant families affected by this parasitic weed which leads to devastating loss to crops yield and economic growth. This root specific parasitic plant is not able to complete its life-cycle without a suitable host and is totally dependent on the host plant for organic nutrients. Therefore, flow of organic solute molecules towards parasites is essential for the survival of the parasitic weed and disturbance in this network modulated host-parasitic interaction, which induces resistance in host against these parasitic weeds. To develop host resistance to this parasitic weed, we silenced selected prominent genes associated with P. aegyptiaca using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) methods. Our results demonstrated that the total number of parasite tubercle attached to root of the host plant Nicotiana benthamiana significantly reduced upon silencing of P. aegyptiaca specific gene which encodes mannitol transporter, however silencing of other gene(s), have no significant effects. Thus, our study indicates that mannitol transport plays an important role in host-parasite interaction and silencing of this gene causes development of host resistance against this parasite.

SLC51 family of steroid-derived molecule transporters in GtoPdb v.2021.3

The SLC51 organic solute transporter family of transporters is a pair of heterodimeric proteins which regulate bile salt movements in the small intestine, bile duct, and liver, as part of the enterohepatic circulation [2, 5, 1]. OSTα/OSTβ is also expressed in steroidogenic cells of the brain and adrenal gland, where it may contribute to steroid movement [6]. Bile acid transport is suggested to be facilitative and independent of sodium, potassium, chloride ions or protons [5, 2]. OSTα/OSTβ heterodimers have been shown to transport [3H]taurocholic acid, [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, [3H]estrone-3-sulphate, [3H]pregnenolone sulphate and [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [2, 5, 6]. OSTα/OSTβ-mediated transport of bile salts is inhibited by clofazimine [10]. OSTα is suggested to be a seven TM protein, while OSTβ is a single TM 'ancillary' protein, both of which are thought to have intracellular C-termini [8]. Both proteins function in solute transport [8, 4]. Inherited mutations in OSTα and OSTβ are associated with liver disease and congenital diarrhea in children [9, 7].

Seed priming improves Salvia hispanica L. seed performance under salt stress

Salvia hispanica L. is an alternative crop cultivated by farmers who want to diversify their production. However, this species is sensitive to salinity, which affects its germination negatively. Seed priming with different attenuators is a technique with potential to mitigate the effects of salt stress. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed priming with the use of different attenuators on the germination, growth, and organic solute accumulation of S. hispanica seedlings under salt stress. The experimental design was completely randomized, with treatments distributed in a 4 × 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to four seed priming treatments and five osmotic potentials, with four replicates of 50 seeds in each treatment. The seed treatments consisted of presoaking seeds for 4h in salicylic acid, gibberellic acid, and distilled water and the control treatment, which did not involve soaking. These seeds were germinated at osmotic potentials of 0.0, -0.1, -0.2, -0.3, and -0.4 MPa, using NaCl as an osmotic agent to simulate the different salinity levels. Among all the treatments implemented, S. hispanica seed priming with salicylic acid was the most efficient in mitigating the salt stress effects.

Solute Transport Controls Membrane Tension and Organellar Volume

The regulation of cellular volume in response to osmotic change has largely been studied at the whole cell level. Such regulation occurs by the inhibition or activation of ionic and organic solute transport pathways at the cell surface and is coincident with remodelling of the plasma membrane. However, it is only in rare instances that osmotic insults are experienced by cells and tissues. By contrast, the relatively minute luminal volumes of membrane-bound organelles are constantly subject to shifts in their solute concentrations as exemplified in the endocytic pathway where these evolve alongside with maturation. In this review, we summarize recent evidence that suggests trafficking events are in fact orchestrated by the solute fluxes of organelles that briefly impose osmotic gradients. We first describe how hydrostatic pressure and the resultant tension on endomembranes can be readily dissipated by controlled solute efflux since water is obliged to exit. In such cases, the relief of tension on the limiting membrane of the organelle can promote its remodelling by coat proteins, ESCRT machinery, and motors. Second, and reciprocally, we propose that osmotic gradients between organellar lumens and the cytosol may persist or be created. Such gradients impose osmotic pressure and tension on the endomembrane that prevent its remodelling. The control of endomembrane tension is dysregulated in lysosomal storage disorders and can be usurped by pathogens in endolysosomes. Since trafficking and signaling pathways conceivably sense and respond to endomembrane tension, we anticipate that understanding how cells control organellar volumes and the movement of endocytic fluid in particular will be an exciting new area of research.

SLC51 family of steroid-derived molecule transporters (version 2020.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

The SLC51 organic solute transporter family of transporters is a pair of heterodimeric proteins which regulate bile salt movements in the small intestine, bile duct, and liver, as part of the enterohepatic circulation [2, 4, 1]. OSTα/OSTβ is also expressed in steroidogenic cells of the brain and adrenal gland, where it may contribute to steroid movement [5]. Bile acid transport is suggested to be facilitative and independent of sodium, potassium, chloride ions or protons [4, 2]. OSTα/OSTβ heterodimers have been shown to transport [3H]taurocholic acid, [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, [3H]estrone-3-sulphate, [3H]pregnenolone sulphate and [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [2, 4, 5]. OSTα/OSTβ-mediated transport of bile salts is inhibited by clofazimine [9]. OSTα is suggested to be a seven TM protein, while OSTβ is a single TM 'ancillary' protein, both of which are thought to have intracellular C-termini [7]. Both proteins function in solute transport [7, 3]. Inherited mutations in OSTα and OSTβ are associated liver disease and congenital diarrhea in children [8, 6].