Plant oxalate oxidases: key enzymes in redox and stress regulation.

Oxalate oxidase (OXO) enzymes are integral to plant physiology, facilitating the degradation of oxalate (oxalic acid) into hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and carbon dioxide. OXO enzymes are considered a key source of H₂O₂ in plant cells, especially under oxidative stress, which activates diverse physiological roles, including cell-wall fortification, redox signaling, and the modulation of ion homeostasis. As a result, OXO enzymes significantly influence embryo viability, cell wall stiffening, apoplastic redox activity, and defense, especially under abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature.

Unlocking Fungal Potential: The CRISPR-Cas System as a Strategy for Secondary Metabolite Discovery.

Natural products (NPs) are crucial for the development of novel antibiotics, anticancer agents, and immunosuppressants. To highlight the ability of fungi to produce structurally diverse NPs, this article focuses on the impact of genome mining and CRISPR-Cas9 technology in uncovering and manipulating the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for NP synthesis. The CRISPR-Cas9 system, originally identified as a bacterial adaptive immune mechanism, has been adapted for precise genome editing in fungi, enabling targeted modifications, such as gene deletions, insertions, and transcription modulation, without altering the genomic sequence.

Exploring Extremotolerant and Extremophilic Microalgae: New Frontiers in Sustainable Biotechnological Applications.

Exploring extremotolerant and extremophilic microalgae opens new frontiers in sustainable biotechnological applications. These microorganisms thrive in extreme environments and exhibit specialized metabolic pathways, making them valuable for various industries. The study focuses on the ecological adaptation and biotechnological potential of these microalgae, highlighting their ability to produce bioactive compounds under stress conditions.

In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange.

The accumulation of crystal calcium oxalate (CaOx) in plants is linked to a type of stress-induced photosynthesis termed 'alarm photosynthesis', serving as a carbon reservoir when carbon dioxide (CO) exchange is constrained. is an extremophyte found from southern Mexico to Antarctica, which thrives in high-altitude Andean regions. Growing under common garden conditions, from different latitudinal provenances display significant variations in CaOx crystal accumulation.

Ecophysiology of Antarctic Vascular Plants: An Update on the Extreme Environment Resistance Mechanisms and Their Importance in Facing Climate Change.

Antarctic flowering plants have become enigmatic because of their unique capability to colonize Antarctica. It has been shown that there is not a single trait that makes and so special, but rather a set of morphophysiological traits that coordinately confer resistance to one of the harshest environments on the Earth. However, both their capacity to inhabit Antarctica and their uniqueness remain not fully explained from a biological point of view.

The two-component system response regulator BvrR binds to three DNA regulatory boxes in the upstream region of .

is a facultative extracellular-intracellular bacterial zoonotic pathogen worldwide. It is also a major cause of abortion in bovines, generating economic losses. The two-component regulatory system BvrR/BvrS modulates the expression of genes required to transition from extracellular to intracellular lifestyles.

Commonalities between the Atacama Desert and Antarctica rhizosphere microbial communities.

Plant-microbiota interactions have significant effects on plant growth, health, and productivity. Rhizosphere microorganisms are involved in processes that promote physiological responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. In recent years, the interest in microorganisms to improve plant productivity has increased, mainly aiming to find promising strains to overcome the impact of climate change on crops.

The Potential of CRISPR/Cas Technology to Enhance Crop Performance on Adverse Soil Conditions.

Worldwide food security is under threat in the actual scenery of global climate change because the major staple food crops are not adapted to hostile climatic and soil conditions. Significant efforts have been performed to maintain the actual yield of crops, using traditional breeding and innovative molecular techniques to assist them. However, additional strategies are necessary to achieve the future food demand.

Measuring the effect of climate change in Antarctic microbial communities: toward novel experimental approaches.

The Antarctic continent is undergoing a rapid warming, affecting microbial communities throughout its ecosystems. This continent is a natural laboratory for studying the effect of climate change, however, assessing the microbial communities' responses to environmental changes is challenging from a methodological point of view. We suggest novel experimental designs, including multivariable assessments that apply multiomics methods in combination with continuous environmental data recording and new warming simulation systems.

Overexpression of the regulates growth, leaf senescence and confer salt stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants.

NAC transcription factors play critical roles in xylem secondary development and in regulation of stress response in plants. NAC proteins related to secondary cell wall development were recently identified and characterized in (teak), one of the hardwood trees of highest economic importance in the world. In this work, we characterized the novel gene, which is involved in signaling pathways that mediate teak response to stress.

Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Leaves of the Extremophile Plant (Kunth) Bartl. (Caryophyllaceae).

The presence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals has been widely reported in the plant kingdom. These structures play a central role in various physiological functions, including calcium regulation, metal detoxification, and photosynthesis. However, precise knowledge about their possible roles and functions in plants is still limited.

Antarctic : A Producer of Cold-Stable β-Galactosidase Enzymes.

There has been a recent increase in the exploration of cold-active β-galactosidases, as it offers new alternatives for the dairy industry, mainly in response to the current needs of lactose-intolerant consumers. Since extremophilic microbial compounds might have unique physical and chemical properties, this research aimed to study the capacity of Antarctic bacterial strains to produce cold-active β-galactosidases. A screening revealed 81 out of 304 strains with β-galactosidase activity.

Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in under CO Limiting Conditions.

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals are widespread among plant species. Their functions are not yet completely understood; however, they can provide tolerance against multiple environmental stress factors. Recent evidence suggested that CaOx crystals function as carbon reservoirs since its decomposition provides CO that may be used as carbon source for photosynthesis.