Signal transduction – Page 3

Electrical integrity and week-long oscillation in fungal mycelia

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Researchers monitored electrical signals in fungal mycelial networks over 100 days to understand how fungi coordinate their activities across space. When fungi encountered wood to decompose, they generated a clear, directional electrical signal from the wood toward the rest of the mycelium, acting like a biological command center. Most remarkably, after 60 days, the fungi developed a week-long electrical rhythm at the wood site, the longest oscillation ever recorded in fungi, which may help the fungus remember resource locations and coordinate its decomposition activities.

PcLRR-RK3, an LRR receptor kinase is required for growth and in-planta infection processes in Phytophthora capsici

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Researchers studied a specific protein called PcLRR-RK3 that helps Phytophthora capsici, a disease-causing organism, infect plants. By reducing the amount of this protein, they found that the pathogen became much weaker, could not grow as well, and could not successfully infect plants. This protein sits on the surface of the pathogen’s cells and acts like a communication tool that the organism needs to develop and cause disease.

Decapeptide Inducer Promotes the Conidiation of Phytopathogenic Magnaporthe oryzae via the Mps1 MAPK Signaling Pathway

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Scientists discovered a short chain of amino acids called MCIDP that dramatically increases spore production in rice blast fungus. This fungus causes one of the most destructive diseases affecting rice crops worldwide, with losses ranging from 10-50% depending on severity. The researchers found that MCIDP works by activating specific cellular signaling pathways that control the fungus’s reproduction. This discovery could lead to new strategies for controlling rice blast disease and protecting rice crops from infection.

Electrical integrity and week-long oscillation in fungal mycelia

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Researchers discovered that fungal mycelia (underground networks of fungal threads) use electrical signals to communicate across their bodies when searching for food like wood. When a fungus found a piece of wood to eat, it generated electrical signals that spread throughout its mycelial network, possibly helping coordinate the fungus’s response. Most remarkably, the fungus exhibited a peculiar electrical rhythm at the food location that cycled every week—the longest such pattern ever observed in fungi.

Hirsutanone Isolated from the Bark of Alnus japonica Attenuates Melanogenesis via Dual Inhibition of Tyrosinase Activity and Expression of Melanogenic Proteins

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Researchers found that hirsutanone, a natural compound from East Asian alder bark, can reduce skin pigmentation by blocking melanin production through two mechanisms: directly inhibiting the tyrosinase enzyme and suppressing the cellular signals that trigger melanin-producing genes. In laboratory tests with both mouse and human skin cells, hirsutanone proved more effective than a related compound called oregonin at reducing melanin without harming the cells. This discovery suggests hirsutanone could potentially be developed into a treatment for pigmentation problems like age spots and melasma.

iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Proteomic Changes in Mycelium of Pleurotus ostreatus in Response to Heat Stress and Subsequent Recovery

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This study examined how oyster mushrooms respond to high temperatures using advanced protein analysis techniques. Researchers found that when mushroom mycelium was exposed to 40°C heat, it damaged cell membranes and changed the levels of hundreds of proteins. However, when the temperature returned to normal, the mushrooms could repair the damage and recover. Key proteins including heat shock proteins and stress-response enzymes played important roles in protecting the mushroom cells and helping them survive heat stress.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Modulates Shiraia Hypocrellin A Biosynthesis Through ROS/NO Signaling in Response to Bamboo Polysaccharide Elicitation

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Researchers discovered that a naturally derived compound from bamboo boosts the production of hypocrellin A, a promising cancer-fighting and antimicrobial agent made by a special fungus. By studying a key enzyme called G6PDH, they found that it acts as a molecular switch controlling hypocrellin production when the fungus senses bamboo components. This discovery enables cost-effective large-scale production of this powerful medicine through simple fermentation, potentially making novel cancer treatments and antibiotics more accessible.

Staurosporine as an Antifungal Agent

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Staurosporine is a natural compound produced by soil bacteria that can kill fungi. Scientists originally discovered it in 1977 and found it works by blocking proteins called kinases that fungi need to survive. Recent research shows it could be useful against drug-resistant fungal infections, especially when combined with other antifungal medicines. However, it needs to be modified to make it safer for human use.

Enhancement and Mechanism of Ergosterol Biosynthesis in Termite Ball Fungus Athelia termitophila by Methyl Jasmonate

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Scientists studied how to increase ergosterol production in termite ball fungus, a medicinal fungus used in traditional medicine. By adding methyl jasmonate, a natural signaling molecule, they more than doubled ergosterol content. Ergosterol is used to make vitamin D2 and certain medications for inflammation and cancer. The study identified which genes need to be activated for better ergosterol production, providing insights for creating more effective medical products from fungi.

Plant–Fungi Mutualism, Alternative Splicing, and Defense Responses: Balancing Symbiosis and Immunity

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Fungi and plants form partnerships that help plants grow better and resist stress, with fungi receiving sugars from plants in return for nutrients from the soil. This review explains how a cellular process called alternative splicing acts like a molecular switch that lets plants accept beneficial fungi while keeping the ability to fight off harmful pathogens. Understanding this balance could help farmers grow healthier crops with less chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Research Keyword: Signal transduction