Gene editing of the wheat homologs of TONNEAU1‐recruiting motif encoding gene affects grain shape and weight in wheat

Grain size and weight are important components of a suite of yield‐related traits in crops. Here, we showed that the CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing of TaGW7, a homolog of rice OsGW7 encoding a TONNEAU1‐recruiting motif (TRM) protein, affects grain shape and weight in allohexaploid wheat. By editing the TaGW7 homoeologs in the B and D genomes, we showed that mutations in either of the two or both genomes increased the grain width and weight but reduced the grain length. The effect sizes of mutations in the TaGW7 gene homoeologs coincided with the relative levels of their expression in the B and D genomes. The effects of gene editing on grain morphology and weight traits were dosage dependent with the double‐copy mutant showing larger effect than the respective single copy mutants. The TaGW7‐centered gene co‐expression network indicated that this gene is involved in the pathways regulating cell division and organ growth, also confirmed by the cellular co‐localization of TaGW7 with α‐ and β‐tubulin proteins, the building blocks of microtubule arrays. The analyses of exome capture data in tetraploid domesticated and wild emmer, and hexaploid wheat revealed the loss of diversity around TaGW7‐associated with domestication selection, suggesting that TaGW7 is likely to play an important role in the evolution of yield component traits in wheat. Our study showed how integrating CRISPR‐Cas9 system with cross‐species comparison can help to uncover the function of a gene fixed in wheat for allelic variants targeted by domestication selection and select targets for engineering new gene variants for crop improvement.     

Uncialamycin as a novel payload for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) based targeted cancer therapy

Uncialamycin analogs were evaluated as potential cytotoxic agents in an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approach to treating human cancer. These analogs were synthesized using Hauser annulations of substituted phthalides as a key step. A highly potent uncialamycin analog 3c with a valine-citrulline dipeptide linker was conjugated to an anti-mesothelin monoclonal antibody (mAb) through lysines to generate a meso-13 conjugate. This conjugate demonstrated subnanomolar potency (IC50?=?0.88?nM, H226 cell line) in in vitro cytotoxicity experiments with good immunological specificity to mesothelin-positive lung cancer cell lines. The potency and mechanism of action of this uncialamycin class of enediyne antitumor antibiotics make them attractive payloads in ADC-based cancer therapy.     

Structural and functional characterization of a novel acidophilic 7α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

7α‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α‐HSDH) is an NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductase belonging to the short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases. In vitro, 7α‐HSDH is involved in the efficient biotransformation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) to tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). In this study, a gene encoding novel 7α‐HSDH (named as St‐2‐1) from fecal samples of black bear was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein has subunits of 28.3 kDa and a native size of 56.6 kDa, which suggested a homodimer. We studied the relevant properties of the enzyme, including the optimum pH, optimum temperature, thermal stability, activators, and inhibitors. Interestingly, the data showed that St‐2‐1 differs from the 7α‐HSDHs reported in the literature, as it functions under acidic conditions. The enzyme displayed its optimal activity at pH 5.5 (TCDCA). The acidophilic nature of 7α‐HSDH expands its application environment and the natural enzyme bank of HSDHs, providing a promising candidate enzyme for the biosynthesis of TUDCA or other related chemical entities.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as potential IDO1 inhibitors

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) plays a vital role in tumor immune escape and has emerged as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, a novel series of 2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxylic acid derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activities against IDO1, and their structure-activity relationship was investigated. Among these, compound 19a exhibited excellent IDO1 inhibitory activity (HeLa cellular IC₅₀?=?4.0?nM, THP-1 cellular IC₅₀?=?4.6?nM). Further molecular docking studies revealed that the compound 19a formed a coordinate bond with the heme iron through the carboxylic acid moiety. These results indicate that compound 19a is a potential IDO1 inhibitor for further investigation.     

2000-2015年中国陆地生态系统蒸散时空变化及其影响因素

准确量化区域蒸散时空格局及其影响因素对理解陆地生态系统碳水循环具有十分重要的意义。近年来中国经历了严重的空气污染及气候波动,亟须探讨蒸散的时空变化及其影响因素。基于PT-JPL（Priestly-Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory）模型,集成遥感数据和气象数据模拟了中国陆地生态系统2000-2015年蒸散,并分析其时空变化及影响因素。结果表明：1）参数优化后PT-JPL模型可解释蒸散年际变化的68%,优于原始模型及MODIS蒸散产品;2）中国地区多年平均蒸散为440.16 mm/a,呈东南沿海到西北内陆逐渐递减的空间格局;3）2000-2015年蒸散整体呈轻微下降趋势（slope=6.48 Gt/a,P=0.17）,但具有年代际差异,2000-2010年中国地区蒸散呈显著下降趋势（slope=21.05,P < 0.01）,占全国蒸散总量45.05%的内蒙古地区、甘新地区、黄土高原地区及青藏地区解释了61.88%的年际变化;2010-2015年呈轻微上升趋势（slope=10.48,P=0.71）,各地区均无显著变化趋势;4）辐射主导了蒸散的年代际差异,分别解释了2010年前后蒸散下降及上升趋势的51.45%、85.26%。蒸散呈显著变化趋势的内蒙古地区、黄土高原地区及青藏地区主要受辐射控制,甘新地区主要受降水和温度的影响。     

H_2O_2预处理及高温胁迫下杜鹃叶片活性氧及抗氧化酶亚细胞定位分析

为明确H_2O_2在杜鹃耐热性形成中的作用机制以及高温胁迫下杜鹃活性氧清除系统的亚细胞分布,该研究以3个耐热性不同的杜鹃品种为实验材料,进行H_2O_2预处理后再进行高温胁迫,分析叶绿体、线粒体和细胞溶质等亚细胞组分中活性氧产生和清除系统的变化。结果表明:(1)‘胭脂蜜’、‘红月’、‘红珊瑚’分别为耐热、较耐热和热敏感品种。(2)高温胁迫下,3个杜鹃品种H_2O_2含量的亚细胞分布为细胞溶质叶绿体线粒体,各亚细胞组分中超氧阴离子自由基■产生速率差异不显著;3个杜鹃品种均以细胞溶质中的丙二醛(MDA)含量最高,且热敏感杜鹃‘红月’和‘红珊瑚’中MDA亚细胞分布与H_2O_2相一致,但‘胭脂蜜’线粒体中MDA含量高于叶绿体。(3)高温胁迫下,‘胭脂蜜’和‘红珊瑚’亚细胞组分超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性排序为细胞溶质叶绿体线粒体,‘红月’相应排序为细胞溶质线粒体叶绿体;过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在‘胭脂蜜’和‘红月’亚细胞组分中的排序相同,线粒体中CAT活性高于细胞溶质和叶绿体,而在‘红珊瑚’中叶绿体CAT活性最高。(4)H_2O_2预处理可以通过增强耐热杜鹃的抗氧化防御能力,减轻杜鹃幼苗的过氧化损伤,尤其是对耐热性较差的杜鹃品种效果显著。研究发现,杜鹃叶片MDA、活性氧、抗氧化酶活性的亚细胞分布在高温胁迫下存在品种差异,MDA亚细胞分布与活性氧的分布并不完全一致,热敏感杜鹃‘红月’和‘红珊瑚’叶绿体所受的过氧化损伤程度高于耐热品种‘胭脂蜜’;高温胁迫下,H_2O_2预处理对不同杜鹃品种各亚细胞器的活性氧和抗氧化酶的影响程度也表现出品种间差异。     

双季稻田冬季种植模式对土壤有机碳和碳库管理指数的影响

为探讨冬季覆盖作物还田对稻田土壤碳库的影响,通过冬季种植油菜、紫云英、黑麦草、马铃薯,并以冬闲为对照进行大田试验,测定了不同冬季作物模式下早稻和晚稻的土壤有机碳、活性有机碳含量,并计算了稳态碳、碳库活度、活度指数、碳库指数和土壤碳库管理指数.结果表明:冬季作物还田增加了土壤有机碳含量,早稻和晚稻后的土壤有机碳含量比对照分别提高了1%～8%和3%～18%;油菜、黑麦草和紫云英还田均促进了土壤活性有机碳含量的增加,早稻后增加16.2%～84.2%,晚稻后增加24.4%～28.1%;冬季作物还田增加了土壤碳库管理指数,增加幅度为1.4%～41.8%.综上所述,冬种作物还田有利于提高土壤的固碳效应,并提升土壤质量,以种植黑麦草、紫云英的综合效果较佳.     

ELK-1/JNK/c-Fos对左归降糖解郁方(ZGJTJYF)体外培养的模拟糖尿病并发抑郁症(DD)大鼠海马神经元凋亡中的作用

目的:研究信号通路ELK-1/JNK/c-Fos在左归降糖解郁方(ZGJTJYF)对模拟糖尿病并发抑郁症(DD)环境下抗海马神经元凋亡中的作用。方法:原代培养海马神经元,加入高糖(150 mmol/L)+皮质酮(200μmol/L),构建DD体外细胞模型;将培养的海马神经元细胞随机分为5组:空白血清组、正常组、左归降糖解郁方含药血清组、阳性药(二甲双胍+氟西汀)含药血清组和模型组(每组3个复孔)。模型组和正常组给予等量培养液,其余组加入相应体积分数10%的相应血清,均干预18 h。分别采用Hoechst染色、高内涵细胞成像分析技术和RT-PCR技术分别检测海马神经元凋亡情况及检测凋亡相关ELK-1、JNK和c-Fos蛋白和基因的表达。结果:与空白组比较,模型组细胞凋亡明显,其海马神经元凋亡数量明显增多,ELK-1、JNK和c-Fos的mRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,左归降糖解郁方含药血清组和阳性药含药血清组大鼠海马神经元可见局部亮点明显减少,凋亡细胞数显著减少,ELK-1、JNK和c-Fos蛋白及mRNA表达均明显下调(P<0.05),且神经网络及树突连接情况得到明显改善。结论:左归降糖解郁方可以减低DD环境下海马神经元中Elk-1、JNK、c-fos表达而起到抗凋亡的效果。