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PubMed2026

Acetic acid-induced translational repression involves eIF2B body formation and Ded1 sequestration into stress granules in yeast.

Elucidating the physiological impact of acetic acid stress and the corresponding yeast responses is essential for advancing fundamental biology and improving industrial alcoholic fermentation. Despite numerous genome-wide studies, information on the effects of acetic acid stress on yeast translational regulation remains limited. We found that a sublethal concentration of acetic acid (35 mM, 0.2% v/v) causes translational repression, accompanied by the formation of eIF2B bodies and the phosphorylation of eIF2α, both of which are involved in the regulation of translation initiation. Acetic acid also caused the sequestration of Ded1, a DEAD-box RNA helicase crucial for translation initiation, into stress granules. Removal of acetic acid restored translational activity and the proper localization of eIF2B and Ded1, indicating the reversibility of acetic acid-induced translational repression. Furthermore, when yeast cells were pretreated with 0.05% acetic acid, translational repression under subsequent 0.2% acetic acid stress was attenuated in wild-type cells but not in hrk1Δ cells. This indicates that Hrk1, a Pma1 activator, is required to sufficiently enhance tolerance to acetic acid-induced translational repression. These findings provide novel insights into the physiological effects of acetic acid stress on translational activity and translation-related factors in yeast cells.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae↗

PubMed2026

Antennal transcriptome analysis of chemosensory proteins in the raspberry weevil, Aegorhinus superciliosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Aegorhinus superciliosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a polyphagous pest of economic importance in southern Chile, the chemical ecology of which remains poorly characterized. Across insect species, chemosensory proteins, including odorant receptors (ORs), gustatory receptors (GRs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs), and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), mediate the detection of chemical cues involved in host selection, reproduction, and other ecologically relevant behaviors. In this study, the antennal transcriptome of adult A. superciliosus was sequenced and analyzed using a de novo RNA-seq approach. Three independent biological replicates per sex were used for RNA-seq, and the same number of independent biological replicates was used for RT-qPCR validation; sequencing yielded 147,409,936 high-quality reads after quality filtering. A total of 112 candidate chemosensory genes were identified, comprising 43 ORs, 34 OBPs, 10 CSPs, 18 IRs, 5 GRs, and 2 SNMPs. Phylogenetic analyses assigned these candidate proteins to established clades, providing a comparative framework for functional inference for ORs and OBPs. Sex- and tissue-biased expression analyses revealed that several ORs, including AsupOR4, AsupOR19, and AsupOBP13, exhibit antennal enrichment and sex-specific expression patterns. Notably, AsupOR19 and AsupOBP13 displayed strong female-biased expression. In addition, transcripts of selected ORs and OBPs were detected in non-antennal tissues, such as the rostrum and legs, suggesting potential functional versatility beyond canonical olfaction. Together, these findings represent the first molecular identification of the chemosensory repertoire of A. superciliosus. This study establishes a foundation for reverse chemical ecology approaches aimed at identifying behaviorally active volatile organic compounds (VOCs) toward environmentally sustainable strategies for integrated pest management.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic analysis provides molecular insights into the innate immune defense of Mactra veneriformis against Vibrio alginolyticus infection.

Mactra veneriformis is an economically important bivalve mollusc in China, but its aquaculture is frequently threatened by Vibrio infections, particularly Vibrio alginolyticus. To investigate the molecular immune response of M. veneriformis to V. alginolyticus, we performed RNA-seq analysis of hepatopancreatic tissues collected at 48 h post-infection, the peak mortality time point, with PBS-injected individuals used as controls. Infection with V. alginolyticus caused severe histopathological damage in the hepatopancreas and resulted in a cumulative mortality of 53.3% over 14 d, compared with 3.3% in the control group. Transcriptomic analysis identified 2623 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1585 significantly up-regulated genes and 1038 down-regulated genes. KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated that DEGs were significantly enriched in immune related and metabolism pathways, including the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway, and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings revealed candidate immune related genes (tlr3, tlr5, myd88, nfkb1, il-17d, and ifi44l), a putative TLR-MyD88-NF-κB signaling axis, and KEGG signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT, RLR and CYP450, that may be involved in the innate immune response of M. veneriformis to V. alginolyticus infection. These results provide a transcriptomic basis for understanding host-pathogen interactions in this species and highlight candidate genes and pathways for future functional validation and potential application in disease-resistance breeding.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Integrative analysis of transcriptome and DNA methylome dynamics during caudal fin regeneration in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus).

Caudal fin regeneration in teleost fish is a complex, multi-stage process involving coordinated molecular and cellular changes. While the role of epigenetic regulation particularly DNA methylation has been studied in model freshwater species such as zebrafish, its contribution to regeneration in marine teleosts remains largely unexplored. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and DNA methylomic data to characterize the temporal dynamics of gene expression and methylation during caudal fin regeneration in the silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus). Using RNA-sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) at three biologically critical time points 1, 3, and 7 days post-amputation (dpa), we characterized the spatiotemporal molecular landscape of caudal fin regeneration. These time points capture the key transitional phases of wound healing and inflammation (1 dpa), blastema formation and progenitor proliferation (3 dpa), and regenerative outgrowth with tissue remodeling (7 dpa), enabling robust detection of the major molecular programs underlying epimorphic regeneration. Concurrently, CG-methylome analysis identified thousands of dynamically changing differentially methylated regions (DMRs). A strong global inverse correlation was observed between promoter methylation and gene expression. Integrative analysis pinpointed key regeneration genes (fgf20a, msxb, sox9b) whose expression was associated with dynamic methylation changes in their promoters or gene bodies. We conclude that DNA methylation is a dynamic and key regulatory layer that acts in concert with transcriptional reprogramming to coordinate tissue regeneration, providing new insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying complex regenerative processes in teleosts.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Epitranscriptomic erasers in bivalves: Evolutionary divergence and species-specific transcriptional plasticity of the ALKBH family under acute thermal stress.

The AlkB homolog (ALKBH) family of Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases mediates nucleic acid demethylation, thereby governing RNA metabolism and genomic stability. Despite their pivotal roles in epitranscriptomic regulation across vertebrates, the evolutionary dynamics and functional significance of ALKBH proteins in bivalve mollusks remain largely unexplored. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of 210 ALKBH genes identified across 35 bivalve species. Our analyses reveal a distinct evolutionary trajectory characterized by the lineage-specific loss of ALKBH4 and the restricted distribution of ALKBH5 to the Mytilidae family, contrasting sharply with vertebrate repertoires. Using the noble scallop (Chlamys nobilis) and Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) as model systems, we demonstrate that ALKBH genes exhibit conserved spatiotemporal expression patterns, with pronounced enrichment in gonadal tissues and during metamorphic transitions, implicating these enzymes in gametogenesis and larval development. Furthermore, comparative thermal stress experiments reveal divergent transcriptional plasticity: the subtropical scallop C. nobilis mounts rapid, transient induction of ALKBH1/2/6 under heat shock, whereas the eurythermal oyster C. gigas maintains sustained ALKBH3 expression, potentially underpinning its superior thermal tolerance. Conversely, cold stress elicits bimodal regulation in C. nobilis, with ALKBH1/2 upregulation contrasting with ALKBH6/7/8 suppression. These findings illuminate the functional diversification of bivalve ALKBH genes and their potential utility as molecular biomarkers for assessing developmental competence and thermal resilience in shellfish aquaculture.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals heterogeneous stress responses and Mg2+-mediated survival mechanisms in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during freeze-drying and storage.

Maintaining the viability of lactic acid bacteria during dehydration and subsequent storage remains a significant challenge. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the heterogeneous stress responses of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, identifying seven distinct transcriptional clusters across the liquid culture, freeze-drying, and storage phases. The dominant clusters in the freeze-drying and storage were not completely consistent, showing significant functional differentiation. Genomic stability may be important for survival during freeze-drying and storage, while intracellular energy homeostasis appears important for viability during storage. The magnesium transporter mgtB was highly expressed in clusters tolerant to freeze-drying and storage, suggesting a critical role for Mg2+ homeostasis. Further experimental validation confirmed that Mg2+ treatment significantly bolstered stress resistance, increasing immediate post-freeze-drying survival by over 2-fold (up to 92.90%) and post-storage survival by over 5-fold (up to 5.98%). Proteomic data indicated that Mg2+ supplementation correlated with the maintenance of several biological functions potentially relevant to bacterial survival during freeze-drying and storage, including DNA repair, translation, and central carbon metabolism. These findings provide a map of microbial stress resistance through population heterogeneity and offer a potential strategy that may be adapted for enhancing the stability of other industrial lactic acid bacteria products.

Freeze Drying↗

PubMed2026

Metatranscriptomic analysis of viral sequences associated with Culex nigripalpus at an Alabama aquaculture site.

Mosquitoes associated with aquaculture habitats can harbor diverse viruses, yet the viromes of many locally abundant species remain poorly characterized. At an aquaculture-associated site in Auburn, Alabama, we surveyed mosquito populations and found Culex nigripalpus to be the dominant species collected. To characterize viruses associated with this mosquito, we performed RNA-seq on pooled female Cx. nigripalpus and compared complementary bioinformatic workflows for viral detection and genome recovery. One workflow removed host-associated reads by mapping to the closest available mosquito reference genome prior to assembly, whereas a second workflow used fully de novo assembly and viral database annotation. Additional protein-level filtering, cross-workflow comparison, and comparison of Trinity and rnaSPAdes assemblies were used to prioritize well-supported viral candidates. Across the original analyses, 16 submitted accessions corresponding to 12 collapsed virus/name groups were recovered, including Merida virus, Hubei mosquito virus 5, Zhejiang mosquito virus, Hubei virga-like virus 3, Rinkaby virus, Elemess virus, Qingnian mosquito virus, Serbia narna-like virus 2, XiangYun narna-levi-like virus 8, Ecclesville picorna-like virus, and baculovirus-like fragments. Several candidates were supported across multiple workflows, while others were recovered only under specific analytical conditions, indicating that candidate recovery was influenced by assembly and filtering choices. Selected viral contigs were independently supported by RT-PCR amplification. Overall, these results provide a first characterization of viral sequences associated with Cx. nigripalpus from an Alabama aquaculture-associated site and show that comparison across assembly and filtering strategies helped prioritize the most consistently supported viral candidates.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into thermal stress reveal physiological trade-off between thermal stress adaptation and reproductive investment in Spodoptera litura.

Spodoptera litura, a highly polyphagous lepidopteran pest, poses a major threat to agricultural productivity due to its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Although heat stress is known to trigger transcriptional reprogramming in insects, the molecular mechanisms underlying thermal stress responses in S. litura remain poorly understood. In the present study, fourth-instar larvae were exposed to acute heat stress (44 °C) and compared with control conditions (27 ± 1 °C) to investigate heat-induced transcriptional alterations affecting physiology and reproduction. High-quality RNA-Seq data achieved more than 80% mapping efficiency, with a total of 15,782 transcripts were identified. Transcriptome analysis of S. litura larvae showed 323 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 262 genes were significantly upregulated and 61 were downregulated in heat-stressed larvae compared to the control group. The DEGs were associated with stress response, reproduction, signalling, proteostasis, detoxification, oxidative stress, metabolism, development, and chromatin regulation. Heat shock proteins genes, including HSP70, HSP90, and HSP27, together with co-chaperones such as TRET-1, STIP1, and Starvin, were strongly upregulated, indicating enhanced cellular protection against protein damage and oxidative stress under heat stress. Conversely, key reproductive and cell cycle-related genes, including BARR, CAPD2, FEO, CDK2 and MORULA, were significantly downregulated, suggesting reproductive impairment and developmental arrest. RT-qPCR validation corroborated the RNA-Seq findings, demonstrating a heat-induced physiological trade-off that prioritizes survival over reproduction. Consistent with these molecular responses, heat-stressed insects exhibited marked reproductive impairment, including significant reductions in gonadosomatic index, eupyrene sperm bundle count, mating frequency, mating success, female calling behaviour, copulation duration, fecundity, and egg fertility. Collectively, these findings provide comprehensive insights into the molecular basis of thermal adaptation in S. litura and demonstrate that acute heat stress compromises reproductive fitness while activating conserved stress-response pathways that promote short-term survival.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Dynamic evolution of chaperone-mediated autophagy is associated with tumor microenvironment remodeling and prognostic stratification in lung adenocarcinoma: insights from single-cell transcriptomics, ensemble machine learning, and experimental validation.

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) shows prognostic heterogeneity, and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging is limited for individualized management. Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) maintains proteostasis, but its role during adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)-minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA)-invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) progression remains unclear. METHODS: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from GSE189357 and bulk transcriptomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts were integrated. CMA activity, cell-cell communication, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), tumor-normal differential expression, machine-learning survival modeling, tumor microenvironment (TME) features, drug sensitivity, and EPC1 function were analyzed. RESULTS: CMA-high tumor epithelial cells increased from AIS (58.1%) to MIA (65.7%) but declined in IAC (44.4%; p < 0.001). CMA-low cells preferentially received fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix cues. A CMA-negatively correlated module identified 69 core genes. Random survival forest (RSF) performed best among 117 machine-learning combinations (mean concordance index > 0.873). High-risk patients had worse survival across cohorts, and the risk score was independently associated with overall survival (hazard ratio = 16.013, 95% confidence interval: 9.579-26.768, p < 0.001). High-risk tumors showed proliferative activation and M0 macrophage enrichment, whereas low-risk tumors showed stronger immune-related signaling. EPC1 overexpression suppressed malignant phenotypes in A549 cells. CONCLUSION: CMA dynamics are associated with stromal and immune remodeling during LUAD progression. A CMA-based model provides robust prognostic stratification and may offer a basis for future TME-guided studies.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy↗

PubMed2026

LINE-1 repeats are a defining feature of the Xce.

During early development, female mammals inactivate one X chromosome to balance their X-linked gene dosage with males. While allelic choice is random in inbred mouse populations, choice can be significantly skewed in interstrain hybrids. The genetic basis of skewing has long been attributed to the mysterious "X chromosome controlling element(s)" (Xce) with different strengths among species, subspecies, and strains. When two X-chromosomes with different Xce strengths are inherited by offspring, the X chromosome with the stronger Xce will have a higher probability of remaining active. Here, we provide evidence that L1Tf repeats-a subfamily of long interspersed nuclear elements 1-plays a role in determining Xce strength. L1Tf elements form a condensed core within the inactive X (Xi) territory. Mouse strains with varying Xce strengths differ in the L1Tf copy number on the X chromosome, with the strength of the Xce allele being inversely related to L1Tf copy number. L1Tf expression mediates the Xce effect. However, in contrast to a prior report, L1Tf RNA does not coat the Xi. Rather, L1Tf promotes condensation of the Xi core. Intriguingly, L1Tfs recruit and sequester YY1 from active genes, accelerating XCI in cis. Thus, L1Tf copy number, expression, and binding of YY1 are key defining features of the Xce. We propose a model in which the Xce influences the choice of Xist alleles by promoting YY1 binding to the nucleation site for the initiation of Xist spreading.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genetic regulation of CPEB3-mediated alternative polyadenylation associated with survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a key post-transcriptional mechanism that regulates gene expression by modulating 3'UTR length, its dysregulation has been implicated in carcinogenesis. How genetic variants influence APA to affect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis remains unclear. METHODS: Prognosis-APA quantitative trait loci (apaQTL) were performed using genotype and APA profiling from TCGA data. A two-stage survival analysis in 848 Chinese and 369 TCGA LIHC patients and functional validation were used to identify prognostic apaQTL in HCC progression. RESULTS: A total of 2,025 and 817 significant APA events were identified in Chinese and TCGA cohort, respectively. Besides, 859 events were associated with poor prognosis in HCC and enriched in RNA splicing / metabolism pathways. We detected 32,034 significant apaQTLs, predominantly enriched in 3'UTRs and RBP-binding regions. CPEB3 was prioritized as a key APA regulator RBP; its low expression correlated with poor patient survival and promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cells. Notably, a functional apaQTL variant rs2037547, located in GSK3B and mediated by CPEB3, demonstrated a poor survival of HCC patients in both cohort (pooled HR=1.29, p=0.016). Mechanistically, rs2037547 promoted aberrant APA at proximal poly(A) sites of GSK3B through CPEB3, leading to increased expression of short 3'UTR isoform. This regulatory alteration enhanced HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and contributed to HCC progression. CONCLUSION: These findings elucidated the distinct role of apaQTL-mediated APA dysregulation in HCC prognosis, providing insights for prognostic stratification and potential targets for personalized therapy in HCC.

RNA-binding proteins↗

PubMed2026

Algae-to-host horizontal gene transfer in Paramecium bursaria is associated with host adaptation during endosymbiosis.

Paramecium bursaria maintains a stable endosymbiosis with green algae, yet the evolutionary consequences of this association remain unclear. Here, we screened the host genome for algal-derived horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) using a lineage-aware workflow designed to detect horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between two defined lineages. We identified 16 candidate HTGs, including four putative newly transferred genes and 12 homologous transferred genes, most of which were functionally associated with redox homeostasis and metabolism. Five HTGs showed symbiosis-dependent expression. RNAi knockdown of GH32s and SATs reduced host proliferation, total cell area, and motility, while GH32s knockdown also reduced endosymbiont load. Duplication patterns suggest that most transfers may have occurred after the P. bursaria lineage diverged from the sampled Paramecium species but before its lineage-specific whole-genome duplication (WGD). The HTGs also showed host-associated shifts in GC content and gene length, while representative HTGs retained conserved domains and functional motifs. Together, our results support algae-to-host HGT in P. bursaria and suggest that some transferred genes may contribute to metabolic integration during endosymbiosis.

Gene Transfer, Horizontal↗

PubMed2026

Estrone disrupts early reproductive development in juvenile male Siniperca chuatsi and is associated with brain and gonadal responses.

Whether estrone (E1)-associated disruption of early reproductive development in fish is accompanied by brain responses in addition to direct gonadal effects remains unclear. Here, juvenile Siniperca chuatsi, a non-model but economically important freshwater species, were exposed for 60 d to 0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 μg/L E1, spanning environmentally reported and elevated concentrations. By integrating waterborne concentration monitoring, histopathology, transcriptomics, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) validation, we evaluated E1-associated changes in brain and gonadal tissues during early reproductive development. Waterborne E1 concentrations remained generally stable throughout the exposure period. At the highest tested concentration (1.0 μg/L), E1 caused neuronal vacuolation and pyknosis in the hypothalamic region and induced distinct ovarian-like structures in the gonads of genetic males. In the brain, cyp19a1, crhr1, and adcy2a were significantly upregulated, whereas egr1 was significantly downregulated, indicating transcriptional changes in genes associated with local estrogen conversion, stress-response/cAMP signaling, and neuronal activity-related regulation within a broader injury/stress-response background. In the gonad, RNA-seq analysis showed significant downregulation of star2, hsd3b1, cyp17a1, and cyp11b and significant upregulation of hsd17b1, suggesting alterations in steroidogenesis-related gene expression at the transcriptomic level. qPCR analysis of selected gonadal candidate genes showed expression directions generally consistent with the RNA-seq results, and these molecular patterns were consistent with the feminized histological phenotype. Together, these results indicate that E1 can disrupt early reproductive development in juvenile S. chuatsi and support a cautious working model in which E1 exposure is accompanied by concurrent brain and gonadal responses. This study provides new evidence for understanding the toxic effects and ecological risk implications of natural estrogen E1 during early fish development.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Lactylation-related immune-metabolic dysregulation defines prognostic and therapeutic stratification in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Lactylation links lactate metabolism with inflammatory signaling and immune regulation in tumors. However, its cellular distribution and translational value in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain unclear. METHODS: Single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets GSE189357 and GSE171145 were integrated to characterize lactylation-related activity, intercellular communication, and malignant epithelial cell states in LUAD. Single-cell-derived lactylation-related differentially expressed genes were mapped to TCGA-LUAD and multiple GEO cohorts. Univariate Cox regression and machine learning algorithms were used to construct a lactylation-related prognostic signature (LRPS). The associations of LRPS with prognosis, immunotherapy response, drug sensitivity, genomic alterations, immune infiltration, and inflammation- and metabolism-related pathways were evaluated. KRT7 was further validated using virtual knockout analysis, spatial transcriptomics, and in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: lactylation-related transcriptional activity showed heterogeneous distribution across LUAD cell populations and was associated with altered cell-cell communication. In malignant epithelial cells, LRTS-high and LRTS-low states exhibited distinct metabolic, inflammatory, and tumor-related pathway activities. LRPS showed stable prognostic performance in TCGA-LUAD and multiple GEO cohorts and remained an independent prognostic factor. Low LRPS was associated with greater potential benefit from immunotherapy, whereas different LRPS groups displayed distinct drug sensitivity, genomic alteration, and immune microenvironment patterns. KRT7 was highly expressed in LUAD and associated with poor prognosis. KRT7 knockdown suppressed LUAD cell proliferation, migration, invasion, colony formation, and tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies lactylation-related immune-metabolic dysregulation as a clinically relevant feature of LUAD and develops a single-cell-guided LRPS for prognosis and therapeutic stratification. KRT7 emerged as an LRPS-related functional candidate with experimentally supported roles in malignant LUAD phenotypes.

Immunotherapy↗

PubMed2026

Characteristics and functions of a cell adhesion molecule PvCadN in Penaeus vannamei during WSSV infection.

Cell adhesion not only maintains the integrity of the organism, but also plays an important role in the immune system, which is involved in modulation in the interaction between host and virus. In this study, a novel cell adhesion molecule from Penaeus vannamei, designated as PvCadN, was investigated. It had the typical molecular characteristics of cadherin family, with multiple extracellular cadherin repeat domains, a transmembrane region, and a conserved β-catenin-binding motif. Pvcadn is expressed ubiquitously across all detected tissues, with the highest transcriptional level in gills. RNA interference-mediated silencing of pvcadn significantly impaired the adhesion ability of shrimp hemocytes. Upon WSSV infection, pvcadn showed a tissue-specific expression pattern, with upregulation in gills and downregulation in hemocytes. Knockdown of pvcadn markedly suppressed the transcription of WSSV immediate-early gene ie1 and replication of the viral genome in vivo, suggesting that PvCadN acted as a potential virus-associated molecule. Furthermore, it was found that PvCadN was regulated by Lvβ-catenin, a core molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway that functions in innate immunity, at the transcriptional and protein levels. Silencing of lvβ-catenin significantly downregulated pvcadn transcription, and Lvβ-catenin bound directly to the Cadherin C domain of PvCadN. In summary, the study revealed that PvCadN was a key cell adhesion molecule involved in WSSV infection, which was regulated by Lvβ-catenin. Our findings will provide fundamental data for further investigation into cadherin-mediated immune regulation in shrimp, and offer new insights for the prevention and control of WSSV.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Insights into specific and nonspecific butyrate-producing pathways during the in vitro fecal fermentation of butyrylated starch.

Butyrylated starch is a special type-4 resistant starch with butyrate-carrying attribute. In this study, the unique butyrate-producing capability of butyrylated starch was deeply investigated by focusing on its specific and nonspecific butyrate-producing pathways, respectively, using specially designed substrates as controls. In vitro fermentation studies revealed that butyrylated and isobutyrylated starches generated high levels of butyrate and isobutyrate, respectively, highlighting the role of butyryl group metabolism in the specificity of butyrate production. Carboxylesterase assays have demonstrated that butyryl group metabolism is primarily facilitated by carbohydrate esterases expressed in the gut microbiota. Combined with 16S rRNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, it was found that butyrylated starch fermentation did not significantly enhance traditional butyrate synthesis pathways but modified the balance between the butyryl-CoA:acetyl-CoA transferase and butyrate kinase pathways by altering the gut microbiota composition, specifically by upregulating the relative abundance of indicator species such as Bacteroides, the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and Parabacteroides. These insights offer theoretical guidance for designing butyrylated starch structures and regulating intestinal health.

Starch↗

PubMed2026

Simultaneously PYCR-1 and ALH-6 inhibition exacerbates 6-PPD quinone toxicity via disrupting proline and glutamate metabolisms and activating insulin signals in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Glutamate synthesized from the proline can serve as a precursor for key intermediate metabolites of citric acid cycle. Recently, we observed reduced glutamate content and expression of alh-6 controlling glutamate synthesis by 6-PPD quinone (6-PPDQ) in Caenorhabditis elegans. However, possible effect of 6-PPDQ on proline synthesis and the association with 6-PPDQ toxicity induction remain unclear. After 0.1-10 μg/L 6-PPDQ exposure, proline content was further reduced, and expression of pycr-1 governing proline biosynthesis was decreased. In 6-PPDQ exposed nematodes, RNA interference (RNAi) of pycr-1 decreased α-ketoglutarate content, enhanced mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and reduced flavine adenine dinucleotide (FADH₂) contents, inhibited mitochondrial complex I/II activities, and decreased expressions of gas-1 and mev-1. Moreover, compared to single RNAi, double RNAi of pycr-1 and alh-6 exacerbated the 6-PPDQ toxicity in reducing α-ketoglutarate, NADH, and FADH₂ contents, and suppressing mitochondrial complex I/II activities and gas-1 and mev-1 expressions. Additionally, double RNAi of pycr-1 and alh-6 intensified toxicity of 6-PPDQ on longevity and caused upregulation of insulin ligand and receptor genes and downregulation of daf-16 and its targeted genes in 6-PPDQ exposed nematodes. Furthermore, after 6-PPDQ exposure, daf-16 RNAi suppressed pycr-1 and alh-6 expressions, suggesting formation of a regulatory feedback loop between pycr-1/alh-6 and daf-16. Our findings highlight involvement of disrupted proline and glutamate metabolisms in 6-PPDQ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced longevity.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

ScRNA-seq analysis reveals the effects of nitrite stress on the endocrine system of the eyestalk in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Nitrite is a harmful substance generated in Litopenaeus vannamei farming systems, largely originating from the inadequate breakdown of surplus feed and shrimp feces. Its accumulation in the water can affect the growth and physiological functions of shrimp, damage the immune system, and even cause mass mortality, thus becoming a key environmental factor restricting the green development of the industry. Under nitrite stress, the eyestalk, as an important neuroendocrine regulatory center in crustaceans, participates in the stress adaptation of the organism and exerts a protective effect by regulating energy metabolism and immune function. However, the molecular regulatory mechanism of the eyestalk in response to nitrite stress remains unclear. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology was used to analyze the heterogeneity of eyestalk cells in L. vannamei under nitrite stress. A total of 18, 394 high-quality cells were obtained, and six major cell subpopulations, including Neurosecretory cell, Motor neuron, Sensory neuron, Interneuron, Neurogliocyte, and Support cell, were identified. Differential expression analysis identified 839 differentially expressed genes, and different cell types showed distinct specific responses to nitrite stress. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that pathways such as glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, ribosome function, and endoplasmic reticulum protein processing were significantly activated, while signal transduction and DNA repair-related pathways were inhibited. Further analysis revealed that nitrite stress could induce mitochondrial function changes and trigger oxidative stress, thereby affecting the neuroendocrine system function of the eyestalk. This study provided insights into transcriptomic responses of the eyestalk to nitrite stress at the single-cell level, laying a theoretical foundation for the management of aquaculture environments.

Animals↗