Publications by authors named "Lu-Jun Yu"

In plants, autophagy is a conserved recycling system essential for development and stress responses by targeting cellular components for massive degradation in the vacuole. Our previous work suggested that autophagy contributes to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) stress responses by modulating NADPH-oxidase-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis; however, the molecular link between extracellular ROS and autophagy remains unknown. We performed a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify components involved in autophagy, using the central autophagy component ATG8e as a bait.

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Two-dimensional (2D) molecular crystals with irregular morphologies are promising candidates for constructing multifunctional optoelectronics. However, the impact of crystal distortion on morphological irregularities has been largely overlooked, despite its potential for engineering crystal structures with superior functionalities. Here, we report a competitive facet-selective growth strategy for synthesizing 2D molecular crystals with irregular morphologies, ranging from rhombus sheets to distorted compass shapes.

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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is a key event in modulating plant responses to hypoxia and post-hypoxia reoxygenation. However, the molecular mechanism by which hypoxia-associated ROS homeostasis is controlled remains largely unknown. Here, we showed that the calcium-dependent protein kinase CPK16 regulates plant hypoxia tolerance by phosphorylating the plasma membrane-anchored NADPH oxidase respiratory burst oxidase homolog D (RBOHD) to regulate ROS production in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

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To investigate the alleviating effect of hydrogen (H) on homocysteine (Hcy) levels and non alcoholic fatty liver in rats with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). After one week of adaptive feeding, Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the general diet group (CHOW), the high methionine group (HMD), and the high methionine plus hydrogen rich water group (HMD+HRW), with 8 rats in each group. The CHOW group was fed with AIN-93G feed, while the HMD and HMD+HRW groups were fed with AIN-93G+2% methionine feed to construct an HHcy model.

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Brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens), a highly destructive insect pest, poses a serious threat to rice (Oryza sativa) production worldwide. Jasmonates are key phytohormones that regulate plant defences against BPH; however, the molecular link between jasmonates and BPH responses in rice remains largely unknown. Here, we discovered a Poaceae-specific metabolite, mixed-linkage β-1,3;1,4-d-glucan (MLG), which contributes to jasmonate-mediated BPH resistance.

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Immune response in plants is tightly regulated by the coordination of the cell surface and intracellular receptors. In animals, the membrane attack complex/perforin-like (MACPF) protein superfamily creates oligomeric pore structures on the cell surface during pathogen infection. However, the function and molecular mechanism of MACPF proteins in plant pathogen responses remain largely unclear.

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In response to hypoxia under submergence, plants switch from aerobic respiration to anaerobic fermentation, which leads to the accumulation of the end product, ethanol. We previously reported that autophagy-deficient mutants show increased sensitivity to ethanol treatment, indicating that ethanol is likely involved in regulating the autophagy-mediated hypoxia response. Here, using a transcriptomic analysis, we identified 3909 genes in Arabidopsis seedlings that were differentially expressed in response to ethanol treatment, including 2487 upregulated and 1422 downregulated genes.

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In plants, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, endosomal sorting, and autophagy are essential for protein degradation; however, their interplay remains poorly understood. Here, we show that four Arabidopsis () E3 ubiquitin ligases, SEVEN IN ABSENTIA OF 1 (SINAT1), SINAT2, SINAT3, and SINAT4, regulate the stabilities of FYVE DOMAIN PROTEIN REQUIRED FOR ENDOSOMAL SORTING1 (FREE1) and VACUOLAR PROTEIN SORTING23A (VPS23A), key components of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport-I, to modulate abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. GFP-SINAT1, GFP-SINAT2, and GFP-SINAT4 primarily localized to the endosomal and autophagic vesicles.

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Background: This study was conducted to explore whether the effect of edaravone (5-methyl-2-phenyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol3-one, EDR) can ameliorate renal warm ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) by modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and its downstream effector after cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a rat model.

Methods: The rats (n=10) experienced anaesthesia and intubation followed by no CA inducement were defined as the Sham group. Transoesophageal alternating current stimulation was employed to establish 8 min of CA followed by conventional CPR for a resuscitation model.

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Excessive fructose consumption is closely linked to the pathogenesis of metabolic disease. Carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a transcription factor essential for fructose tolerance in mice. However, the functional significance of liver ChREBP in fructose metabolism remains unclear.

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Brassinosteroids (BRs) and jasmonates (JAs) regulate plant growth, development, and defense responses, but how these phytohormones mediate the growth-defense tradeoff is unclear. Here, we identified the Arabidopsis () () mutant, which exhibits enhanced expression of defensin genes () and The mutant showed increased resistance to herbivory by beet armyworms () and infection by botrytis (). encodes ROTUNDIFOLIA3, a cytochrome P450 protein essential for BR biosynthesis.

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In plants, submergence from flooding causes hypoxia, which impairs energy production and affects plant growth, productivity, and survival. In Arabidopsis, hypoxia induces nuclear localization of the group VII ethylene-responsive transcription factor RELATED TO AP2.12 (RAP2.

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MicroRNA-499 (miR-499) rs3746444 polymorphism has been associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, results from several studies are inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to further investigate the possible association between miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphism and CHD risk.

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Background: The insect gustatory system plays a central role in the regulation of multiple physiological behaviors and the co-evolution between insects and their hosts. The gustatory receptors (Gr) are important to allow insects to sense their environment. It is critical to the selection of foods, mates and oviposition sites of insects.

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Glucose produced from photosynthesis is a key nutrient signal regulating root meristem activity in plants; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that, by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, the conserved macroautophagy/autophagy degradation pathway contributes to glucose-regulated root meristem maintenance. In Arabidopsis thaliana roots, a short exposure to elevated glucose temporarily suppresses constitutive autophagosome formation.

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Plants accumulate the lipids phosphatidic acid (PA), diacylglycerol (DAG), and triacylglycerol (TAG) during cold stress, but how plants balance the levels of these lipids to mediate cold responses remains unknown. The enzymes ACYL-COENZYME A:DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE (DGAT) and DIACYLGLYCEROL KINASE (DGK) catalyze the conversion of DAG to TAG and PA, respectively. Here, we show that DGAT1, DGK2, DGK3, and DGK5 contribute to the response to cold in Arabidopsis ().

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Liver has a unique regenerative capacity, however, its regulatory mechanism is not fully defined. We have established the zinc-finger protein ZBTB20 as a key transcriptional repressor for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene in liver. As a marker of hepatic differentiation, AFP expression is closely associated with hepatocyte proliferation.

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Bioaccumulation of arsenic (As) in rice () increases human exposure to this toxic, carcinogenic element. Recent studies identified several As transporters, but the regulation of these transporters remains unclear. Here, we show that the rice R2R3 MYB transcription factor OsARM1 (ARSENITE-RESPONSIVE MYB1) regulates As-associated transporters genes.

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Epidemiological data demonstrated that hormone replace treatment has protective effect against colorectal cancer (CRC). Our previous studies showed that this effect may be associated with DNA mismatch repair. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of estrogen induction of MLH1, and whether colorectal tumor proliferation can be inhibited through induction of MLH1 by estrogen signal pathway.

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Eukaryotic cells use autophagy to recycle cellular components. During autophagy, autophagosomes deliver cytoplasmic contents to the vacuole or lysosome for breakdown. Mammalian cells regulate the dynamics of autophagy via ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of autophagy proteins.

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Hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) converts carbohydrates into triglycerides and is known to influence systemic lipid homoeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that the zinc finger protein Zbtb20 is required for DNL. Mice lacking Zbtb20 in the liver exhibit hypolipidemia and reduced levels of liver triglycerides, along with impaired hepatic lipogenesis.

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Submergence induces hypoxia in plants; exposure to oxygen following submergence, termed reoxygenation, produces a burst of reactive oxygen species. The mechanisms of hypoxia sensing and signaling in plants have been well studied, but how plants respond to reoxygenation remains unclear. Here, we show that reoxygenation in Arabidopsis () involves rapid accumulation of jasmonates (JAs) and increased transcript levels of JA biosynthesis genes.

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This study is to explore the reason of "the older, the better" of PCR and itsincrease of flavonoids. We identified the fun- gus isolated from the PCR using microscopic and molecular identification. HPLC method was used to determine the content of 4 fla- vonoids and to clarifythe regularity of them; UV spectrophotometry method was used to determine the total content of flavonoids; reverse thinking was applied to screen the fungus that have close relation to the change of flavonoids.

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Autophagy involves massive degradation of intracellular components and functions as a conserved system that helps cells to adapt to adverse conditions. In mammals, hypoxia rapidly stimulates autophagy as a cell survival response. Here, we examine the function of autophagy in the regulation of the plant response to submergence, an abiotic stress that leads to hypoxia and anaerobic respiration in plant cells.

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