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The androgen receptor (AR) is an attractive target for treating prostate cancer, considering its role in the development and progression of localized and metastatic prostate cancer. The high global mortality burden of prostate cancer, despite medical treatments such as androgen deprivation or AR antagonist therapy, highlights the need to explore alternative strategies. One strategy involves the use of heterobifunctional degraders, also known as proteolysis‐targeting chimeras, which are novel small‐molecule therapeutics that inhibit amplified or mutated targets. Here, the study reports a novel cereblon‐based AR degrader, UBX‐390, and demonstrates its superior activity over established AR degraders, such as ARV‐110 or ARCC‐4, in prostate cancer cells under short‐ and long‐term treatment conditions. UBX‐390 suppresses chromatin binding and gene expression of AR and demonstrates substantial efficacy in the degradation of AR mutants in patients with treatment‐resistant prostate cancer. UBX‐390 is presented as an optimized AR degrader with remarkable potential for treating castration‐resistant prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic nanorings are promising building blocks for a variety of applications, including optical and biological sensing, and energy because the open inner spaces of the nanorings exhibit a high surface‐to‐area ratio and possess unique optical properties that are different from solid nanostructures. However, the simple architecture of mono‐rim based structures leads to low electromagnetic near‐field confinement, which requires a more complex structure to facilitate effective interaction with light. Herein, we report on recent progress of synthetic strategies for fabricating plasmonic nanorings using both top‐down and bottom‐up approaches. First, we introduce the conventional methods for achieving classical ring architectures. Then, we discuss rationally designed synthesis methods for creating advanced and structurally unique nanostructures to increase near‐field enhancement. This process involves multi‐step chemical toolkits that enable control over the shape and the introduction of repeated units in a single entity. Then, we explore the potential applications of complex nanoring architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because BA produced by I Clostridium i could not be detected in soil, we used an indirect approach to evaluate I in situ i BA biosynthesis in response to rice root exudates by examining the expression of bacterial BA biosynthesis-related genes, I butyrate kinase i ( I buk i ) and I phosphotransbutyrase i ( I ptb i ; Fig. Keywords: butyric acid; Clostridium; induced systemic resistance (ISR); plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR); rice; volatiles EN butyric acid Clostridium induced systemic resistance (ISR) plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) rice volatiles 1755 1761 7 05/02/23 20230601 NES 230601 Introduction I Clostridium i species (phylum Firmicutes) are gram-positive endospore-forming anaerobic bacteria that inhabit diverse environments including animal and human gut, sewage, lake sediments, and paddy soil. Rice seeds immersed in a Clostridium spp. suspension were sown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) agar medium containing Clostridium spp. 14-d-old seedlings were inoculated with Xoo (OD600 = 1.0) by leaf clipping method using scissors. These results are consistent with the relative abundance and percent of I Clostridium i present in total read counts, indicating that I Clostridium i species were enriched in the rhizosphere and were less frequent in the endosphere and bulk soil (Figs 1e, S2a-e). [Extracted from the article]

In post‐war Germany and South Korea, not only was vocational education and training key to the two countries' export‐oriented growth models, it also promoted social inclusion. More recently, the knowledge economy has put this skills‐based, inclusive growth model under pressure, and we see labour market dualisation calling into question the social contracts in the two countries. Studying education reform in Germany and Korea, we analyse government capacity to reconcile efficiency and inclusion in the knowledge economy, in the context of twin pressures from firms (with changing skills needs) and parents (with high aspirations for their children). We show that the German government, drawing on its corporatist past, has been more successful in mediating these pressures than Korea, where hierarchical business relations undermined employer engagement and more inclusive policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic interfacial compounds (OICs) are required as linkers for the highly stable and efficient immobilization of bioprobes in nanobiosensors using 2D nanomaterials such as graphene. Herein, we first demonstrated the fabrication of a field‐effect transistor (FET) via a microelectromechanical system process after covalent functionalization on large‐scale graphene by introducing oligo(phenylene‐ethynylene)amine (OPE). OPE was compared to various OICs by density functional theory simulations and was confirmed to have a higher binding energy with graphene and a lower band gap than other OICs. OPE can improve the immobilization efficiency of a bioprobe by forming a self‐assembly monolayer via anion‐based reaction. Using this technology, Magainin I‐conjugated OGMFET (MOGMFET) showed a high sensitivity, high selectivity, with a limit of detection of 100 cfu mL−1. These results indicate that the OPE OIC can be applied for stable and comfortable interfacing technology for biosensor fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Archaea have inhabited the earth for a long period of time and are ubiquitously distributed in diverse environments. However, few studies have focused on the interactions of archaea with other organisms, including eukaryotes such as plants, since it is difficult to cultivate sufficient numbers of archaeal cells for analysis. In this study, we investigated the interaction between soil archaea and Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate for the first time that soil archaea promote plant growth and trigger induced systemic resistance (ISR) against the necrotrophic bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum SCC1 and biotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Ammonia‐oxidizing archaeon Nitrosocosmicus oleophilus MY3 cells clearly colonized the root surface of Arabidopsis plants, and increased resistance against both pathogenic species via the salicylic acid‐independent signalling pathway. This mechanism of bacterial resistance resembles that underlying soil bacteria‐ and fungi‐mediated ISR signalling. Additionally, volatile emissions from N. oleophilus MY3 were identified as major archaeal determinants that elicit ISR. Our results lay a foundation for archaea–plant interactions as a new field of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Certain animal and plant pathogenic bacteria have developed virulence factors including effector proteins that enable them to overcome host immunity. A plant pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) secretes a large repertoire of effectors via a type III secretory apparatus, thereby suppressing plant immunity. Here, we show that Pto causes sepsis in mice. Surprisingly, the effector HopQ1 disrupted animal phagocytosis by inhibiting actin rearrangement via direct interaction with the LIM domain of the animal target protein LIM kinase, a key regulator of actin polymerization. The results provide novel insight into animal host–plant pathogen interactions. In addition, the current study firstly demonstrates that certain plant pathogenic bacteria such as Pto evade phagocytosis by animal cells due to cross‐kingdom suppression of host immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The common molecular patterns of microbes play a critical role in the regulation of plant innate immunity. However, little is known about the role of nucleic acids in this process in plants. • We pre-infiltrated Arabidopsis leaves with total RNAs from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pto DC3000) and subsequently inoculated these plants with the same bacterial cells. • Total Pto DC3000 RNAs pre-infiltrated into Arabidopsis leaves elicited plant immune responses against Pto DC3000. However, sheared RNAs and RNase A application failed to induce immunity, suggesting that intact bacterial RNAs function in plant innate immunity. This notion was supported by the positive regulation of superoxide anion levels, callose deposition, two mitogen-activated protein kinases and defense-related genes observed in bacterial RNA-pre-treated leaves. Intriguingly, the Pto DC3000 population was not compromised in known pattern recognition receptor mutants for chitin, flagellin and elongation factor-Tu (EFTu). Plant defense-related mutant analyses further revealed that bacterial RNA-elicited innate immunity was normally required for salicylic and jasmonic acid signaling. Notably, among total RNAs, the abundant bacterial RNA species 16S and 23S ribosomal RNAs were the major determinants of this response. • Our findings provide evidence that bacterial RNA serves as a microbe-associated molecular pattern in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes crown gall disease. Although Agrobacterium can be popularly used for genetic engineering, the influence of aboveground insect infestation on Agrobacterium induced gall formation has not been investigated. • Nicotiana benthamiana leaves were exposed to a sucking insect (whitefly) infestation and benzothiadiazole (BTH) for 7 d, and these exposed plants were inoculated with a tumorigenic Agrobacterium strain. We evaluated, both in planta and in vitro, how whitefly infestation affects crown gall disease. • Whitefly-infested plants exhibited at least a two-fold reduction in gall formation on both stem and crown root. Silencing of isochorismate synthase 1 (ICS1), required for salicylic acid (SA) synthesis, compromised gall formation indicating an involvement of SA in whiteflyderived plant defence against Agrobacterium. Endogenous SA content was augmented in whitefly-infested plants upon Agrobacterium inoculation. In addition, SA concentration was three times higher in root exudates from whitefly-infested plants. As a consequence, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of roots of whitefly-infested plants was clearly inhibited when compared to control plants. These results suggest that aboveground whitefly infestation elicits systemic defence responses throughout the plant. • Our findings provide new insights into insect-mediated leaf-root intra-communication and a framework to understand interactions between three organisms: whitefly, N. benthamiana and Agrobacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinyl addition homo- and copolymerization of norbornene monomer ( M1) functionalized with a PCBM moiety using a Pd(II) catalyst in combination with a 1-octene chain transfer agent efficiently produces polynorbornenes with side-chain PCBM groups. Characterization by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis reveals that the copolymers constitute a well-defined polymer structure with controlled incorporation of M1. Although the homopolymer is insoluble in organic solvents, the copolymers containing 62 mol% ( P2) and 50 mol% ( P3) of the PCBM moiety are soluble in chlorinated solvents such as o-dichlorobenzene. The bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices fabricated based on the P3HT: P3 blends show that P3 can adequately function as an electron acceptor, leading to a cell with a power conversion efficiency of 1.5%, which is outstanding among the polymeric rivals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic resistance is induced by necrotizing pathogenic microbes and non-pathogenic rhizobacteria and confers protection against a broad range of pathogens. Here we show that Arabidopsis GDSL LIPASE-LIKE 1 (GLIP1) plays an important role in plant immunity, eliciting both local and systemic resistance in plants. GLIP1 functions independently of salicylic acid but requires ethylene signaling. Enhancement of GLIP1 expression in plants increases resistance to pathogens including Alternaria brassicicola, Erwinia carotovora and Pseudomonas syringae, and limits their growth at the infection site. Furthermore, local treatment with GLIP1 proteins is sufficient for the activation of systemic resistance, inducing both resistance gene expression and pathogen resistance in systemic leaves. The PDF1.2-inducing activity accumulates in petiole exudates in a GLIP1-dependent manner and is fractionated in the size range of less than 10 kDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography. Our results demonstrate that GLIP1-elicited systemic resistance is dependent on ethylene signaling and provide evidence that GLIP1 may mediate the production of a systemic signaling molecule(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]