S. Masuda

Discovery of an isoflavone oxidative catabolic pathway in legume root microbiota

The paper identifies an oxidative isoflavone catabolic pathway in legume root microbiota, revealing its role in detoxifying isoflavones and shaping microbiota interactions.

Subgenome dominance shapes novel gene evolution in the decaploid pitcher plant Nepenthes gracilis

This study shows how subgenome dominance in the decaploid pitcher plant Nepenthes gracilis contributes to novel gene evolution linked to its carnivorous traits and dioecy.

Bacterial Pathogen Infection Triggers Magic Spot Nucleotide Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana Chloroplasts Through Specific RelA/SpoT Homologs

This study uses CE-MS to measure (p)ppGpp levels in Arabidopsis thaliana during infection, showing increased ppGpp via RSH2/RSH3 and PAMP signaling.

Uncovering plant microbiomes using long-read metagenomic sequencing

The paper uses long-read metagenomic sequencing to analyze the rice leaf microbiome, identifying novel bacterial species and genetic elements.

Exon 44 skipping in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: NS-089/NCNP-02, a dual-targeting antisense oligonucleotide

This study develops NS-089/NCNP-02, a dual-targeting ASO for exon 44 skipping in DMD, showing effective in vitro and in vivo exon skipping and dystrophin expression.

Complete loss of RelA and SpoT homologs in Arabidopsis reveals the importance of the plastidial stringent response in the interplay between chloroplast metabolism and plant defense response

This study shows that loss of plastid ppGpp synthases/hydrolases in Arabidopsis leads to reduced ppGpp levels, leaf chlorosis, and enhanced defense gene expression under nitrogen starvation.

Massive occurrence of benthic plastic debris at the abyssal seafloor beneath the Kuroshio Extension, the North West Pacific

The paper quantifies plastic debris on the abyssal seafloor beneath the Kuroshio Extension, finding high densities of single-use plastics, indicating the Northwest Pacific deep-sea basin is a major plastic reservoir.

Species-specific assembly of root-associated bacterial microbiota mediated by a combination of plant specialized metabolites

The paper shows that tobacco-specific PSMs mediate the enrichment of Arthrobacter in the tobacco endosphere through bacterial catabolism.

DLDG1, the Arabidopsis Homolog of the Cyanobacterial H+-Extrusion Protein, Regulates Non-Photochemical Quenching in Chloroplasts

This study identifies DLDG1 as a protein regulating non-photochemical quenching in Arabidopsis chloroplasts by interacting with Ycf10 to control H+ homeostasis.

Plastidial (p)ppGpp synthesis by the Ca2+-dependent RelA-SpoT homolog regulates the adaptation of chloroplast gene expression to darkness in Arabidopsis

This study shows that CRSH-dependent (p)ppGpp synthesis in Arabidopsis regulates plastid gene expression adaptation to darkness by transiently increasing ppGpp levels, which is counteracted by RSH1, RSH2, and RSH3.