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Redox-activated chemistry for probing and perturbing the proteome: Lessons from protein redox switches.

Covalent drug discovery and chemical proteomics have historically relied on a nucleophilic logic, where electrophilic "warheads" react with nucleophilic amino acid side chains. While powerful, this paradigm probes only a single dimension of the protein's chemical surface. In contrast, biology leverages a second axis: redox potential. This is exemplified by the regulated redox proteome, where specific residues undergo reversible oxidation and reduction as functional post-translational modifications. Inspired by this natural machinery, researchers are developing redox-activated probes to label proteins at oxidizable residues and deploying similar chemistry to selectively perturb protein function. This review highlights recent advances in redox-activated covalent chemistry and explores its burgeoning potential for the development of next-generation targeted therapeutics.

Oxidation-Reduction

Protein persulfidation emerges as a conserved component of the redox response to DNA damage.

Genotoxic stress is frequently accompanied by alterations in cellular redox homeostasis; however, the mechanisms linking redox regulation to the DNA damage response (DDR) remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the early redox response to DNA damage induced by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, focusing on cysteine oxidative post-translational modifications (PTM). We show that activation of the DNA damage response is accompanied by rapid redox changes that occur in the absence of a generalized oxidative stress response. MMS exposure promotes selective remodeling of cysteine oxidative modifications, characterized by decreased free thiols, robust induction of protein persulfidation, and comparatively modest changes in sulfenylation. These alterations are accompanied by increased intracellular hydrogen sulfide levels, supporting the involvement of reactive sulfur species in the cellular response to DNA damage. Proteome-wide analyses revealed that cysteine oxidative modifications preferentially target proteins involved in central metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis, and genome maintenance. Consistent with these observations, MMS-induced genotoxic stress promotes metabolic adaptation characterized by increased mitochondrial respiration, elevated ATP production, and mitochondrial morphological remodeling, linking bioenergetic adaptation to redox regulation. Importantly, perturbation of intracellular redox balance using N-acetylcysteine compromises survival under DNA-damaging conditions, supporting a functional role for redox signaling during the DDR. Finally, MMS treatment also induces protein persulfidation in mammalian cells. Moreover, exposure to etoposide, a mechanistically distinct genotoxic agent that induces DNA double-strand breaks through topoisomerase II inhibition, showed a similar trend, suggesting that protein persulfidation may not be restricted to alkylation-induced DNA damage. Together our findings identify protein persulfidation as a prominent component of the redox response to DNA damage and provide new insight into the functional interplay between mitochondrial metabolism, cysteine-based redox regulation, and genome maintenance.

Oxidation-Reduction

Adaptive and degenerative mitochondrial remodeling define distinct redox states in age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, yet the relationship between mitochondrial remodeling, redox homeostasis, and disease progression remains poorly understood. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) develop spontaneous AMD-related phenotypes, including punctate deposits and soft drusen, providing a unique animal model to investigate mitochondrial pathology in the aging retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We integrated quantitative mitochondrial ultrastructural profiling with flavoprotein fluorescence imaging, plasma metabolomics, and whole-exome sequencing to characterize mitochondrial and redox alterations in aged rhesus macaques with AMD-related lesions. Flavoprotein fluorescence imaging demonstrated increased metabolic heterogeneity in eyes with soft drusen, consistent with altered mitochondrial redox states and oxidative stress. Morphometric analysis identified distinct mitochondrial remodeling patterns across phenotypes. Normal aging was characterized by concentric cristae and type I paracrystalline inclusions. Eyes with punctate deposits exhibited increased mitochondrial fusion-associated morphology, hyperbranching, and type I paracrystalline inclusions, consistent with a stress-responsive mitochondrial remodeling pattern. In contrast, eyes with soft drusen exhibited reduced fusion-associated morphology, reduced structural complexity, and ultrastructural features consistent with mitochondrial deterioration. These ultrastructural patterns were accompanied by distinct plasma metabolomic signatures. Punctate deposits were associated with altered glycolytic, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and redox-buffering metabolites, consistent with differences in stress-responsive metabolism, whereas soft drusen exhibited metabolomic signatures consistent with altered redox homeostasis. Whole-exome sequencing identified a mitochondrial DNA variant, MT:9582G > A, in cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COX3) associated with the drusen phenotype. Collectively, these findings identify distinct mitochondrial remodeling patterns associated with AMD-related phenotypes in aged rhesus macaques. The convergence of ultrastructural, imaging, metabolomic, and genetic analyses suggests that punctate deposits and soft drusen are associated with different mitochondrial and redox-related responses to chronic retinal stress. These findings provide a framework for future studies investigating mitochondrial biology and redox-driven mechanisms in AMD.

Animals

Experimental workflows for the accurate identification of mitochondrial redox events.

The study of redox biology has been growing constantly since the last decades. Over these years, redox processes have been linked to an extraordinarily wide range of physiological and pathological events, becoming recognized as central mechanisms underlying many of them. In this context, it becomes essential to understand the advantages and limitations of the tools under use, to recognize the specific controls required for each measurement and to accurately distinguish between distinct redox mechanisms. So far, multiple and excellent reviews have dealt with either the tools, the protocols or the mechanisms involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and quenching, a.k.a. redox events. However, a review outlining the workflows to appropriately detect them is still lacking. We define workflow as the combination of tools, methods and mechanistic knowledge that allow the definition of a specific redox event. In this review, we aim to provide an optimal workflow for the research on mitochondrial redox events. To this end, we first summarize the molecular tools available to measure and quench ROS. We then explain the mechanisms of ROS production and scavenging in several of the cellular compartments, with special focus on mitochondria, as well as their implication in physiology and disease. Finally, we use the knowledge in all sections to build a recommended experimental workflow, illustrated by several cases of study. This review will enable the reader to understand how specific mitochondrial redox events can be accurately measured, considering all technical, methodological and mechanistical variables and limitations required for their reliable detection and interpretation.

(Patho)physiology

Hydrogen peroxide dynamics in subcellular compartments of malaria parasites using genetically encoded redox probes.

Redox balance is essential for the survival, growth and multiplication of malaria parasites and oxidative stress is involved in the mechanism of action of many antimalarial drugs. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays an important role in redox signalling and pathogen-host cell interactions. For monitoring intra- and subcellular redox events, highly sensitive and specific probes are required. Here, we stably expressed the ratiometric H2O2 redox sensor roGFP2-Orp1 in the cytosol and the mitochondria of Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) NF54-attB blood-stage parasites and evaluated its sensitivity towards oxidative stress, selected antimalarial drugs, and novel lead compounds. In both compartments, the sensor showed reproducible sensitivity towards H2O2 in the low micromolar range and towards antimalarial compounds at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. Upon short-term exposure (4 h), artemisinin derivatives, quinine and mefloquine impacted H2O2 levels in mitochondria, whereas chloroquine and a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) inhibitor affected the cytosol; 24 h exposure to arylmethylamino steroids and G6PD inhibitors revealed oxidation of mitochondria and cytosol, respectively. Genomic integration of an H2O2 sensor expressed in subcellular compartments of P. falciparum provides the basis for studying complex parasite-host cell interactions or drug effects with spatio-temporal resolution while preserving cell integrity, and sets the stage for high-throughput approaches to identify antimalarial agents perturbing redox equilibrium.

Antimalarials

Redox Rewiring in Nicotine-Driven Gastric Carcinogenesis: Uncovering ROS-Dependent Oncogenic Circuits.

SIGNIFICANCE: Nicotine from tobacco products, secondhand smoke, and emerging delivery systems remains a major but underappreciated driver of gastric carcinogenesis (GC). Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) have long been implicated in tumor biology, current models incompletely explain how chronic nicotine selectively reprograms gastric epithelial signaling. This review advances the concept of redox rewiring, whereby nicotine establishes a persistent oxidative state that orchestrates multiple oncogenic programs via spatially compartmentalized NOX signaling. RECENT ADVANCES: We synthesize evidence for a unified model wherein nicotine activates nAChR/β-AR signaling, Ca2+ influx, PKC, and compartmentalized NOX-derived ROS to generate distinct oncogenic outputs. Beyond the established NOX/ROS/NF-κB/MAPK-driven IL-8 and MMP-9 axes, we integrate emerging evidence into three interconnected modules governing EMT/metastasis (ABL1/STAT3/COX-2/periostin), survival/chemoresistance (ERK/GLI1/Bcl-2), and invasion/immune evasion (miR-21/PDCD4). Collectively, these circuits suggest that ROS function not merely as damaging byproducts but as spatially organized signaling mediators dictating tumor behavior. CRITICAL ISSUES: A major challenge is distinguishing established mechanisms from incompletely validated models. The three proposed axes are testable hypotheses requiring experimental validation. Most data derive from in vitro studies with nonphysiologic nicotine concentrations, and artifacts from nonspecific ROS probes are common. Compensatory pathway activation and multi-target effects of natural products remain underexplored. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: We outline a precision-redox oncology roadmap linking pathway-specific biomarkers, mechanistically matched natural products, and biomarker-enriched trials. Priorities include genetic validation of the three axes, time-resolved ROS imaging, and pulsed natural product regimens. By reframing nicotine-driven GC as adaptive redox network remodeling, this review provides a framework for prevention, stratification, and next-generation therapy. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.

gastric cancer

Exercise Therapy in Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Focused on Muscle Strength, Redox Balance, and Inflammatory Profile.

OBJECTIVE: This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials investigating the impact of exercise therapy on muscle strength, redox balance, and inflammatory profile in individuals with Down syndrome. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE, and PEDro. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials exploring exercise therapy effects on muscle strength and redox balance in individuals with Down syndrome. Although no initial restrictions on age, gender, or health condition were applied during the search process, all included studies focused on adult participants (>18 yr old). No language restrictions were applied, and the search covered the period from 1970 to 2021. RESULTS: We assessed the abstract of 1964 studies. Of the 46 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for the period 2004-2021, 32 focused on muscle strength, and 14 examined redox balance and inflammation. A total of 1611 participants with a mean age of 27 yr were included. This review confirmed that different exercise modalities are prone to improve muscle strength (random effect (95% confidence interval): 0.66, 0.54 to 0.78), redox balance and inflammatory profile (random effect (95% confidence interval): -1.04, -1.31 to -0.76) in this population. The multimodel inference suggested that the frequency of training (times per week) might play a significant role in the main effect. Unsupervised machine learning algorithms displayed a pattern-based graphic representation to assess heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training demonstrated a positive impact on muscle strength in adults with Down syndrome. The review provides valuable insights into the effects of exercise therapy on individuals with Down syndrome, emphasizing the need for tailored training prescriptions.

Humans

Benchmark for Quantitative Global and Redox Proteomics Analysis by Combining Protein-Aggregation Capture and Data Independent Acquisition.

Oxidative damage plays a critical role in various diseases including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Thiol redox reactions, acting as oxidative stress sensors, influence protein structure and function. Redox proteomics, based on the differential alkylation of cysteine sites followed by mass spectrometry, enables the comprehensive analysis of thiol redox status in cells and tissues. However, these approaches require extensive sample manipulation and are not compatible with data-independent acquisition techniques. Here, we introduce PACREDOX, an innovative strategy based on protein aggregation capture (PAC), and demonstrate its compatibility with library-free DIA. Compared with traditional methods such as FASILOX, PACREDOX reduces preparation time and costs while maintaining thiol and proteome coverage. To enable library-free DIA, we corrected in silico spectral libraries in DIA-NN using experimental retention time data from methylthiolated-Cys peptides. PACREDOX with DIA was benchmarked against FASILOX in a myocardial infarction model, yielding the same biological insights, while enhancing peptide and protein coverage. Our results underscore the potential and efficiency of this methodology for studying oxidative damage. Overall, PACREDOX offers an automatable, high-throughput, and cost-effective strategy for redox proteomics.

Proteomics

GFER Represents a Target for Dual Disruption of Redox Homeostasis and Reactivation of the Immune Response in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Both metabolic dysregulation and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contribute to the recalcitrance of this lethal disease to treatment. Accordingly, we aimed to identify and characterize a target that elicits an anticancer response through both disrupting cancer cell redox homeostasis and increasing the immunogenicity of PDAC. First, mitochondrial metabolic dependencies in PDAC were identified by using a CRISPR-Cas9 screening system with a custom single-guide RNA library. Functional validation analyses revealed GFER, a mitochondrial FAD-dependent sulfhydryl oxidase, as an essential regulator of tumor growth. In vitro and in vivo methodologies demonstrated that GFER depletion perturbed redox homeostasis and stimulated tumor immunogenicity, including sensitization to immune checkpoint blockade. In patient-derived xenograft models of PDAC, the growth-inhibitory response induced by GFER depletion was mediated by an altered oxidative balance that released damaged mitochondrial DNA into the cytoplasm of tumor cells, leading to the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and expression of type I IFNs. This effect was recapitulated in a mouse immunocompetent syngeneic PDAC model, in which GFER depletion suppressed tumor growth and promoted T-cell infiltration to enhance tumor-killing effects. Consequently, GFER depletion significantly increased the antitumor efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. Overall, these findings identify GFER as a critical node for both mitochondrial redox homeostasis and immunomodulation in PDAC and reveal a therapeutic opportunity for sensitizing PDAC to immune checkpoint blockade. SIGNIFICANCE: GFER is essential for mitochondrial redox balance and suppressing tumor immunogenicity in pancreatic tumors, with the combination of GFER inhibition with immune checkpoint blockade resulting in a strong antitumor response.

Animals

The Role of the [2Fe-2S] Cluster of Escherichia coli IscR in Responding to Redox-Cycling Agents.

The mechanisms by which cells respond to growth inhibitory redox-cycling agents is only partially understood. In Escherichia coli K12, the IscR regulon, which includes the ISC and SUF Fe-S cluster biogenesis machineries, is differentially expressed in response to these agents. Here, we report how one redox-cycling agent, phenazine methosulfate (PMS), regulates IscR activity via its [2Fe-2S] cluster cofactor. A direct role for IscR in mediating the response to PMS was inferred from the PMS-dependent weakening of [2Fe-2S]-IscR binding to an isc operon type 1 DNA site in vitro. This decrease in DNA binding was attributed to the accompanying oxidation of its [2Fe-2S]1+ cluster. Exposure of anaerobic cultures to PMS leads to increased isc expression, as expected from IscR cluster oxidation and impaired binding to type 1 sites in the isc promoter. However, this same anaerobic PMS treatment did not change expression of type 2 site promoters, such as suf, which require IscR that lacks an Fe-S cluster (apo-IscR) for effective transcriptional regulation. In contrast, PMS exposure under aerobic conditions significantly increased both isc and suf expression, indicating the formation of both [2Fe-2S]2+-IscR and apo-IscR. This effect was partially attributed to superoxide generation by PMS under aerobic conditions, as evidenced by a superoxide dismutase-deficient mutant showing a modest impact on isc and suf expression. Together, these findings provide new insights into redox-cycling dependent regulation of IscR activity and highlight the distinct activities of apo-IscR, [2Fe-2S]2+-IscR and [2Fe-2S]1+-IscR in controlling the IscR regulon.

Escherichia coli Proteins

Feedstock-specific effects of sulfur-rich vegetable fractions on food waste anaerobic digestion: Sulfide-associated redox perturbation and adaptive microbial reassembly.

Food waste (FW) anaerobic digestion (AD) is strongly affected by feedstock heterogeneity, yet the role of sulfur-rich vegetable fractions remains poorly defined. Here, garlic (GAR), Chinese cabbage (CHC), and cabbage (CAB) were used as representative sulfur-rich vegetables to assess their effects on methane production, redox status, and microbial function during FW AD. At equal volatile solids loading, GAR showed no significant effect, whereas CHC and CAB caused a biphasic response, with delayed methane accumulation and reduced cumulative yield followed by late-stage daily methane production 39.6% and 45.9% higher than the control, respectively. CHC and CAB promoted sulfide accumulation and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the early stage. Elevated ROS levels were associated with lower NADH/NAD+ ratios, reduced electron transport activity, and volatile fatty acid accumulation, collectively indicating a redox-perturbed state characterized by functional decoupling between acidogenesis and methanogenesis. Metagenomic analysis showed that this early disturbance was followed by functional reassembly of the community. Hydrolytic-acidogenic bacteria sustained fermentation, accompanied by enrichment of genes associated with PFOR-Rnf-mediated energy conservation and the ED and oxidative PPP pathways, while methanogenesis shifted toward acetoclastic and methylotrophic routes. Genome-resolved analysis attributed the genomic potential for PFOR-Rnf-mediated energy conservation to Aminobacterium and Defluviitoga MAGs, and showed that Methanosarcina possessed the broadest oxidative stress defense repertoire, supporting its dominance after ROS perturbation. These findings provide a mechanistic framework linking sulfur-rich feedstock heterogeneity to methane-production dynamics, involving sulfide-associated redox perturbation and subsequent microbial functional reassembly.

Energy conservation

Crosstalk between cysteine and lysine modifications: Integrating redox and metabolic regulation.

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) on amino acid residues enable dynamic cellular responses to changes in metabolic and redox state. Cysteine and lysine are among the most extensively modified amino acid residues, with both undergoing a diversity of acylation and oxidative modifications. Indeed, proximal (<10&#x202f;&#xc5;) cysteine and lysine residues may form integration nodes for crosstalk between metabolism and redox homeostasis pathways. This review highlights the interaction of proximal Cys-Lys residues, including influence on residue pKa by local electrostatics, cysteine-to-lysine transfer of PTM moieties, and covalent crosslinking. We discuss candidate Cys-Lys regulatory pairs in proteins involved in redox regulation, proteostasis, metabolic adaptation and inflammation. We further utilize computational modeling to identify proximity between cysteine and lysine residues in proteins known to be regulated by acylation and oxidative PTMs, and to demonstrate changes in these distances and local electrostatic potential due to lysine acetylation. Finally, we review how mass spectrometry-based proteomics and machine-learning PTM predictive tools can enable the identification, validation, and interpretation of proximal Cys-Lys interactions that regulate cellular responses to oxidative challenge and metabolic flux.

Cysteine

A redox-regulated RCC1-like protein controls catalase activity in Arabidopsis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate plant growth and stress responses. Catalases play a central role in detoxifying hydrogen peroxide, predominantly within peroxisomes, yet key aspects of catalase regulation remain incompletely understood. Using affinity purification of the UV-B photoreceptor UVR8 coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified CATALASE-INTERACTING RCC1-LIKE 1 (CAIR1), which interacts with all three Arabidopsis catalases and their chaperone NO CATALASE ACTIVITY 1. Loss of CAIR1 reduces catalase activity and causes oxidative stress sensitivity, impaired root growth, and alkaline sensitivity, resembling cat2 and nca1 mutants. CAIR1 promotes peroxisomal import and proper localization of CAT2, preventing CAT2 aggregation and maintaining its activity. CAIR1 undergoes reversible redox-dependent oligomerization that enhances catalase binding, whereas mutation of Cys-356 and Cys-545 compromises this interaction and fails to rescue the oxidative stress sensitivity of cair1 mutants. UV-B weakens CAIR1-catalase interactions and suppresses catalase activity, linking light signalling with redox homeostasis. These findings identify CAIR1 as a redox-responsive regulator of catalase localization and activity.

Arabidopsis

Decoding the distribution, structure-function-redox potential relationship and recent advances in fungal laccases: a systematic approach.

Laccases, categorized as multicopper oxidases, are recognized for their multifaceted roles in ecosystems and their utility in diverse industrial applications. Laccases from higher fungi, specifically Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, have garnered significant research interest due to their elevated redox potentials and their capacity to degrade lignin in decaying wood, alongside other industrial uses. Here, we have conducted a comprehensive and systematic analysis on fungal laccases using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. The genomic distribution, phylogenetic affiliation, and structural organization of laccase-encoding genes in higher fungal species were investigated, as were the catalytic mechanisms of the corresponding enzymes. Additionally, the study explores the correlation between structural domains and redox potential, as well as the impact of post-translational modifications like glycosylation on enzyme activity. Furthermore, the recent advancements in laccase engineering, employing strategies such as rational design, directed evolution, and heterologous expression are discussed. The review also explores the scope of "artificial intelligence and machine learning" in deducing the structure-function relationships, optimizing codon usage, predicting signal peptides, enhancing enzymatic performance, and developing host-specific genetic engineering techniques is also discussed for tailoring fungal laccases to meet the demands of industrial biocatalysis for improved activity and stability.

Laccase

Mapping the covalent cysteine interactome of Ebselen reveals high-sensitivity target engagement and redox proteome remodeling.

Ebselen is a covalent organoselenium compound with broad pharmacological activity, yet its cellular cysteine targets and downstream proteomic consequences remain incompletely defined. Here, we integrated competitive gel-based activity-based protein profiling, reactivity-dependent tandem orthogonal proteolysis-activity-based protein profiling, and TMT-based quantitative proteomics to map Ebselen-induced cysteine engagement and proteome remodeling in living cancer cells. Ebselen exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity and markedly perturbed intracellular thiol-redox balance, as reflected by glutathione depletion and altered reactive oxygen species-associated fluorescence readouts. Competitive gel-based profiling confirmed concentration-dependent engagement of protein cysteine residues in live cells. Quantitative rdTOP-ABPP further identified hundreds of dose-responsive cysteine sites in HeLa and HepG2 cells and revealed a preference for cysteine microenvironments enriched with basic residues. Cross-cell-line comparison highlighted CDK5 Cys53, SMU1 Cys298, and RPSA2 Cys163 as conserved covalent nodes, among which CDK5 Cys53 showed high sensitivity to Ebselen treatment, a finding validated by competitive labeling and MS-based site assignment. Global TMT proteomics revealed extensive remodeling of redox-related and cell-survival-associated pathways, including compensatory upregulation of selenoproteins such as TXNRD1 and GPX family members. Together, these results define a chemical proteomic atlas of Ebselen-cysteine interactions and provide a framework for understanding and optimizing covalent organoselenium therapeutics.

Humans

Operando X-ray Spectroscopy Unveils Light-Driven Redox Selectivity for Photo-Assisted Li-S Batteries.

Photo-assisted lithium-sulfur batteries (PALSBs) can accelerate the sluggish redox kinetics of sulfur cathodes. However, the introduced light field inevitably complicates interfacial reactions, necessitating in situ evidence under realistic operating conditions. Here, we construct a TiO2/FePS3 (TF) p-n junction bifunctional photoelectrode and employ a multiphysics-coupled in situ x-ray spectroscopic technique to elucidate light-regulated catalysis from the interface into the bulk. Operando low-energy XPS identifies potential interfacial catalytic sites. High-energy operando XAFS is, for the first time, applied in PALSBs to track the K-edge position of catalytic centers throughout cycling. The results show that the reversible dynamic valence evolution synchronizes with the stepwise sulfur redox process, revealing that photogenerated carriers and electrocatalytic electrons act cooperatively to promote polysulfide conversion. DFT calculations corroborate, from thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives, that illumination strengthens polysulfide anchoring and lowers the energy barriers of key conversion steps, consistent with the operando spectroscopic observations. Benefiting from this photoelectrochemical co-regulation, the TF-based PALSB maintains excellent reversible capacity and cycling stability under high sulfur loading and low electrolyte content. This work establishes a characterization paradigm for the rational design of high-performance photo-assisted Li-S cathodes.

operando x&#x2010;ray spectroscopy

The impact of metagenomic interplay on the mosquito redox homeostasis.

Mosquitoes are exposed to oxidative challenges throughout their life cycle. The primary challenge comes from a blood meal. The blood digestion turns the midgut into an oxidative environment, which imposes pressure not only on mosquito fecundity and other physiological traits but also on the microbiota in the midgut. During evolution, mosquitoes have developed numerous oxidative defense mechanisms to maintain redox homeostasis in the midgut. In addition to antioxidants, SOD, catalase, and glutathione system, sufficient supply of the reducing agent, NADPH, is vital for a successful defense against oxidative stress. Increasing evidence indicates that in response to oxidative stress, cells reconfigure metabolic pathways to increase the generation of NADPH through NADP-reducing networks including the pentose phosphate pathway and others. The microbial homeostasis is critical for the functional contributions to various host phenotypes. The symbiotic microbiota is regulated largely by the Duox-ROS pathway in Drosophila. In mosquitoes, Duox-ROS pathway, heme-mediated signaling, antimicrobial peptide production and C-type lectins work in concert to maintain the dynamic microbial community in the midgut. Microbial mechanisms against oxidative stress in this context are not well understood. Emerging evidence that microbial metabolites trigger host oxidative response warrants further study on the metagenomic interplay in an oxidative environment like mosquito gut ecosystem. Besides the classical Drosophila model, hematophagous insects like mosquitoes provide an alternative model system to study redox homeostasis in a symbiotic metagenomic context.

Animals

Contrasting redox-related physiological responses associated with HaGATA23 and HaGATA36 during Orobanche cumana parasitism in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Helianthus annuus is an economically important Asteraceae species used for seed oil production and ornamental purposes, but its production is seriously affected by the root-parasitic plant Orobanche cumana. GATA transcription factors are zinc-finger DNA-binding regulators involved in plant development and stress adaptation. However, the molecular characteristics of GATA transcription factors in Helianthus annuus and their contribution to Helianthus annuus -Orobanche cumana interaction remain poorly understood. Here, 36 HaGATA members were retrieved from the Helianthus annuus genome and classified into four phylogenetic clades. Chromosomal placement, collinearity, gene structure, motif composition, and promoter elements varied among the 36 HaGATA members, indicating evolutionary conservation coupled with functional diversification. Expression analysis and RT-qPCR analyses revealed differential expression patterns among HaGATA genes under O. cumana stress, with HaGATA23 markedly downregulated and HaGATA36 strongly upregulated. Overexpression of HaGATA23 was associated with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and unfavorable changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas its silencing showed the opposite physiological tendency. In contrast, overexpression of HaGATA36 reduced malondialdehyde accumulation, increased peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, while its silencing showed the reverse tendency. These results indicate that HaGATA23 and HaGATA36 are candidate genes associated with contrasting redox-related physiological responses during O. cumana stress. This work provides evidence that GATA transcription factors are associated with redox-related physiological responses in sunflower under O. cumana treatment and identifies HaGATA23 and HaGATA36 as functionally divergent candidate genes for further validation.

Helianthus