The complex genome and adaptive evolution of polyploid Chinese pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum)

Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum, known as ‘Chinese pepper’, are distinguished by their extraordinary complex genomes, phenotypic innovation of adaptive evolution and species-special metabolites. Here, we report reference-grade genomes of Z. armatum and Z. bungeanum. Using high coverage sequence data and comprehensive assembly strategies, we derived 66 pseudochromosomes comprising 33 homologous phased groups of two subgenomes, including autotetraploid Z. armatum. The genomic rearrangements and two whole-genome duplications created large (~4.5 Gb) complex genomes with a high ratio of repetitive sequences (>82%) and high chromosome number (2n = 4x = 132). Further analysis of the high-quality genomes shed lights on the genomic basis of involutional reproduction, allomones biosynthesis and adaptive evolution in Chinese pepper, revealing a high consistent relationship between genomic evolution, environmental factors and phenotypic innovation. Our study provides genomic resources and new insights for investigating diversification and phenotypic innovation in Chinese pepper, with broader implications for the protection of plants under severe environmental changes.     

TaTPP-7A positively feedback regulates grain filling and wheat grain yield through T6P-SnRK1 signalling pathway and sugar–ABA interaction

Grain size and filling are two key determinants of grain thousand-kernel weight (TKW) and crop yield, therefore they have undergone strong selection since cereal was domesticated. Genetic dissection of the two traits will improve yield potential in crops. A quantitative trait locus significantly associated with wheat grain TKW was detected on chromosome 7AS flanked by a simple sequence repeat marker of Wmc17 in Chinese wheat 262 mini-core collection by genome-wide association study. Combined with the bulked segregant RNA-sequencing (BSR-seq) analysis of an F₂ genetic segregation population with extremely different TKW traits, a candidate trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase gene located at 135.0 Mb (CS V1.0), designated as TaTPP-7A, was identified. This gene was specifically expressed in developing grains and strongly influenced grain filling and size. Overexpression (OE) of TaTPP-7A in wheat enhanced grain TKW and wheat yield greatly. Detailed analysis revealed that OE of TaTPP-7A significantly increased the expression levels of starch synthesis- and senescence-related genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene pathways. Moreover, most of the sucrose metabolism and starch regulation-related genes were potentially regulated by SnRK1. In addition, TaTPP-7A is a crucial domestication- and breeding-targeted gene and it feedback regulates sucrose lysis, flux, and utilization in the grain endosperm mainly through the T6P-SnRK1 pathway and sugar–ABA interaction. Thus, we confirmed the T6P signalling pathway as the central regulatory system for sucrose allocation and source–sink interactions in wheat grains and propose that the trehalose pathway components have great potential to increase yields in cereal crops.     

Diverse flowering responses subjecting to ambient high temperature in soybean under short-day conditions

Flowering time is one of important agronomic traits determining the crop yield and affected by high temperature. When facing high ambient temperature, plants often initiate early flowering as an adaptive strategy to escape the stress and ensure successful reproduction. However, here we find opposing ways in the short-day crop soybean to respond to different levels of high temperatures, in which flowering accelerates when temperature changes from 25 to 30 °C, but delays when temperature reaches 35 °C under short day. phyA-E1, possibly photoperiodic pathway, is crucial for 35 °C-mediated late flowering, however, does not contribute to promoting flowering at 30 °C. 30 °C-induced up-regulation of FT2a and FT5a leads to early flowering, independent of E1. Therefore, distinct responsive mechanisms are adopted by soybean when facing different levels of high temperatures for successful flowering and reproduction.     

IL-33-ST2 pathway regulates AECII transdifferentiation by targeting alveolar macrophage in a bronchopulmonary dysplasia mouse model

Evidence points to the indispensable function of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in normal lung development and tissue homeostasis. However, the importance of AMs in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has not been elucidated. Here, we identified a significant role of abnormal AM proliferation and polarization in alveolar dysplasia during BPD, which is closely related to the activation of the IL-33-ST2 pathway. Compared with the control BPD group, AMs depletion partially abolished the epithelialmesenchymal transition process of AECII and alleviated pulmonary differentiation arrest. In addition, IL-33 or ST2 knockdown has protective effects against lung injury after hyperoxia, which is associated with reduced AM polarization and proliferation. The protective effect disappeared following reconstitution of AMs in injured IL-33 knockdown mice, and the differentiation of lung epithelium was blocked again. In conclusion, the IL-33-ST2 pathway regulates AECII transdifferentiation by targeting AMs proliferation and polarization in BPD, which shows a novel strategy for manipulating the IL-33–ST2-AMs axis for the diagnosis and intervention of BPD.     

Inhibitory role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosome in non-small-cell lung cancer: microRNA-30b-5p,EZH2 and PI3K/AKT pathway

Exosomal microRNA (miRNA) exerts potential roles in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The current study elucidated the role of miR-30b-5p shuttled by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomes in treating NSCLC. Bioinformatics analysis was performed with NSCLC-related miRNA microarray GSE169587 and mRNA data GSE74706 obtained for collection of the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs. The relationship between miR-30b-5p and EZH2 was predicted and confirmed. Exosomes were isolated from BMSCs and identified. BMSCs-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-30b-5p were used to establish subcutaneous tumorigenesis models to study the effects of miR-30b-5p, EZH2 and PI3K/AKT signalling pathway on tumour growth. A total of 86 BMSC-exo-miRNAs were differentially expressed in NSCLC. Bioinfomatics analysis found that BMSC-exo-miR-30b-5p could regulate NSCLC progression by targeting EZH2, which was verified by in vitro cell experiments. Besides, the target genes of miR-30b-5p were enriched in PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Animal experiments validated that BMSC-exo-miR-30b-5p promoted NSCLC cell apoptosis and prevented tumorigenesis in nude mice via EZH2/PI3K/AKT axis. Collectively, the inhibitory role of BMSC-derived exosomes-loaded miR-30b-5p in NSCLC was achieved through blocking the EZH2/PI3K/AKT axis.     

北部湾鱼类碳、氮、磷生态化学计量特征

为探究北部湾鱼类生态化学计量特征,于2021年3月—4月采集分析了北部湾沿岸9个渔港的79种鱼类(382尾)碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量特征。结果表明北部湾鱼类C、N、P元素含量变化范围分别为33.87%—58.34%、6.31%—14.92%和0.77%—4.67%;C∶N、C∶P、N∶P的变化范围分别为3.43—9.72、19.15—173.06和5.04—33.68,其中P元素含量变化最大,导致C∶P和N∶P的变化。不同物种在科间的差异较大,科内的差异较小。不同体型和食性鱼类之间的C、N、P含量及比值具有显著差异(P<0.05)。鱼类的C∶P和N∶P与P含量呈显著负相关(R²=0.966,P<0.01;R²=0.877,P<0.01),P含量和Ca含量呈显著正相关(R²=0.919,P<0.01),P含量的变化可能与鱼类骨骼和鳞片的形成有关。总之,北部湾鱼类未保持严格的生态化学计量平衡,鱼类生态化学计量特征存在显著的种间差异,主要因鱼类不同的体型和食性差异所致。     

尕海湿地草甸土退化过程土壤氮矿化演变特征

氮矿化是生态系统循环的重要环节之一,影响着生态系统功能和氮素生物地球化学循环,因此研究高寒湿地退化过程中土壤氮矿化演变特征,对揭示气候变化和人为活动干扰背景下的湿地土壤氮素循环过程具有重要意义。以尕海湿地4种不同退化梯度(未退化、轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化)土壤为研究对象,采用野外树脂芯原位培养方法,通过对植物生长季不同生长阶段(生长初期、生长盛期、枯萎期)土壤氮素矿化作用研究,分析湿地退化演替过程中土壤氮矿化时空变化特征及其与土壤环境因子和酶活性之间的关系。结果表明：尕海湿地退化对土壤氮矿化过程有显著抑制作用,与未退化(0.143 mg kg^-1 d^-1)相比,轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化的土壤净氮矿化速率分别减小了0.018 mg kg^-1 d^-1、0.025 mg kg^-1 d^-1、0.020 mg kg^-1 d^-1;随着退化程度加剧,土壤净氨化速率逐渐减小或者不变,而净硝化速率却增大。随时间推移,各退化...     

来源于嗜热氢化杆菌的新型对苯二甲酸双(羟乙)酯水解酶的表达纯化与酶学性质

石化来源的聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯(polyethylene terephthalate,PET)被广泛用于矿泉水瓶、食品包装和纺织品等领域,因其在自然界中不易分解,大量使用后的PET废弃物造成了严重的环境污染与资源浪费。使用生物酶法对PET废弃物进行解聚,并对解聚产物进行升级循环利用是进行塑料污染治理的重要方向之一,其中关键的是PET水解酶的解聚效率。对苯二甲酸双(羟乙基)酯(bis(hydroxyethyl)terephthalate,BHET)是PET生物酶解的中间产物,其累积是限制PET水解酶催化效率的一个重要因素,BHET水解酶和PET水解酶的联用能提升PET的整体水解效率。来源于嗜热氢化杆菌(Hydrogenobacter thermophilus)的双烯内酯酶(HtBHETase)对BHET有显著水解效果,将该酶在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)中进行重组表达并纯化后,对其酶学性质进行了研究。结果显示,HtBHETase对短碳链的酯类如对硝基苯酚乙酸酯催化活性较高,HtBHETase以BHET为底物时的最适反应pH值和最适反应温度分别为5.0和55℃;该酶有较好的热稳定性,经80℃的条件处理1 h仍能保持80%以上活性,显示出了良好的热稳定性,HtBHETase有在PET塑料生物解聚中使用的潜力,本研究为推动生物酶法降解PET提供了新的参考。     

Effects of ROS and caspase-3-like protein on the growth and aerenchyma formation of Potamogeton perfoliatus stem

Protoplasma - Aerenchyma formation plays an important role in the survival of Potamogeton perfoliatus in submerged environment. To understand the regulatory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)...