J. M. Burke

Historic breeding practices contribute to germplasm divergence in leaf specialized metabolism and ecophysiology in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus).

This study examines how historical breeding practices in sunflower affect leaf ecophysiology and specialized metabolism by analyzing 288 cultivated lines across heterotic groups.

OAS3 and RNase L integrate into higher-order antiviral condensates

This study identifies dRIFs as antiviral condensates containing OAS3, RNase L, and PKR, showing their role in RNase L activation during viral infection.

Leaf traits predict performance under varying levels of drought stress in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The paper examines how leaf traits in sunflower respond to drought stress and identifies key traits that predict plant performance under varying water availability.

Exceeding expectations: the genomic basis of nitrogen utilization efficiency and integrated trait plasticity as avenues to improve nutrient stress tolerance in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. )

This study identifies genomic regions and traits linked to nitrogen utilization efficiency and stress tolerance in sunflower under varying nutrient conditions.

Genomic regions associate with major axes of variation driven by gas exchange and leaf construction traits in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The paper identifies genomic regions associated with major axes of variation in sunflower leaf traits related to gas exchange and leaf construction using genome-wide association analyses.

RNase L-mediated RNA decay alters 3' end formation and splicing of host mRNAs

This study shows that RNase L-mediated RNA decay causes RNA-binding proteins to shift from cytoplasm to nucleus, altering splicing and 3' end formation of host mRNAs, especially interferons.

dsRNA-induced condensation of antiviral proteins promotes PKR activation

The paper shows that dsRNA induces the formation of cytosolic condensates (dRIFs) that enhance PKR activation, leading to translational arrest and stress granule formation.

RNA is required for the maintenance of multiple cytoplasmic and nuclear membrane-less organelles.

The paper degrades RNA in the cytoplasm or nucleus to assess its role in maintaining RNP granules, finding that most are affected while some remain unchanged.

Paracrine granules are cytoplasmic RNP granules distinct from stress granules assembling in response to viral infection.

The paper identifies paracrine granules as distinct from stress granules, induced by viral infection and linked to antiviral activity.

Transcriptomics of developing wild sunflower seeds from the extreme ends of a latitudinal gradient differing in seed oil composition

The paper compares transcriptomic differences between sunflower populations from Texas and Saskatchewan to understand how seed oil composition varies with latitude.

Rapid decay of host basal mRNAs during SARS-CoV-2 infection perturbs host antiviral mRNA biogenesis and export

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibits IFN mRNA biogenesis and export by blocking nuclear-cytoplasmic transport and triggering mRNA degradation.

RNase L limits host and viral protein synthesis via inhibition of mRNA export

The paper shows RNase L inhibits viral protein synthesis by blocking mRNA export rather than degrading viral mRNA, and regulates antiviral cytokine production.

Key traits and genes associate with salinity tolerance independent from vigor in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The paper identifies traits and genes associated with salinity tolerance in sunflower that are distinct from those linked to vigor, enabling improved tolerance without compromising growth.

Massive haplotypes underlie ecotypic differentiation in sunflowers

The paper identifies large haplotype blocks associated with ecotypic differentiation in sunflowers, showing how structural variation maintains adaptive alleles despite hybridization.

RNase L reprograms translation by widespread mRNA turnover escaped by antiviral mRNAs

The paper shows RNase L reprograms translation by degrading most mRNAs but allowing antiviral mRNAs like IFN-β to escape degradation during dsRNA stress.

Murine polyomavirus microRNAs promote viruria during the acute phase of infection

This study shows that murine polyomavirus miRNAs reduce viral replication during persistent infection and promote viruria during acute infection, linking miRNA activity to immune evasion.