Genetic basis of kernel nutritional traits during maize domestication and improvement

The nutritional traits of maize kernels are important for human and animal nutrition, and these traits have undergone selection to meet the diverse nutritional needs of humans. However, our knowledge of the genetic basis of selecting for kernel nutritional traits is limited. Here, we identified both single and epistatic quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contributed to the differences of oil and carotenoid traits between maize and teosinte. Over half of teosinte alleles of single QTLs increased the values of the detected oil and carotenoid traits. Based on the pleiotropism or linkage information of the identified single QTLs, we constructed a trait–locus network to help clarify the genetic basis of correlations among oil and carotenoid traits. Furthermore, the selection features and evolutionary trajectories of the genes or loci underlying variations in oil and carotenoid traits revealed that these nutritional traits produced diverse selection events during maize domestication and improvement. To illustrate more, a mutator distance–relative transposable element (TE) in intron 1 of DXS2, which encoded a rate‐limiting enzyme in the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, was identified to increase carotenoid biosynthesis by enhancing DXS2 expression. This TE occurs in the grass teosinte, and has been found to have undergone selection during maize domestication and improvement, and is almost fixed in yellow maize. Our findings not only provide important insights into evolutionary changes in nutritional traits, but also highlight the feasibility of reintroducing back into commercial agricultural germplasm those nutritionally important genes hidden in wild relatives.     

番茄转录因子基因SlWRKY6的克隆与原核表达分析

该研究基于番茄基因组数据库SGN(Sol Genomic Network)信息,利用RT PCR从栽培番茄‘M82’(Solanum lycopersicum)中成功克隆到番茄SlWRKY6基因(登录号：Solyc02g080890),通过qRT PCR方法和原核表达初步验证其生物学功能。结果表明：(1)生物信息学分析显示,番茄SlWRKY6基因ORF全长1 653 bp,编码550个氨基酸,其蛋白结构含有1个WRKYGQK保守结构域和C₂H₂锌指结构域,属于IIb类;其基因启动子上游1 500 bp含有多个激素响应元件和非生物胁迫响应元件。(2)进化树分析显示,SlWRKY6与潘那利番茄SpWRKY31 X1(NP_001352691.1)的相似性最高,且定位于细胞核内。(3)qRT PCR结果显示,SlWRKY6基因在番茄根、茎、叶中均有表达,在叶中的表达量最高,且受盐和干旱诱导表达。(4)SDS PAGE及Western blot结果显示,pET 30a SlWRKY6重组蛋白的大小约66 kDa,与预期大小一致。(5)原核表达分析显示,重组菌E. coli BL21∷pET 30a SlWRKY6在不同浓度盐(NaCl)和干旱(Mannitol)胁迫下生长速度显著低于对照菌E. coli BL21∷pET 30a,且在400 mmol/L NaCl、800 mmol/L甘露醇胁迫条件下最为显著;滴板实验初步验证SlWRKY6转录因子能提高重组菌E. coli BL21∷pET 30a SlWRKY6在ABA和pH 9(NaOH)胁迫的耐受性;在400 mmol/L NaCl、pH 5(HCl)、800 mmol/L甘露醇胁迫条件下耐受能力降低。研究表明,SlWRKY6转录因子可能通过参与ABA途径来响应非生物胁迫。     

Role of TRPV4-P2X7 Pathway in Neuropathic Pain in Rats with Chronic Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion

Neurochemical Research - Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channel that is involved in the development of neuropathic pain. P2X7 receptor...     

Characterizing the impacts of highway pavement in a newly planned greater bay area economic belt in China

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - As an ambitious strategy of national interest in China and with an aim at achieving the ‘one-hour economic circle’ among Greater Bay...     

A Multicenter Study of Viral Aetiology of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children in Chinese Mainland

Virologica Sinica - Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. In this study, we aimed to describe the aetiology of viral...     

Slc20a1b is essential for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell expansion in zebrafish

Science China Life Sciences - Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are able to self-renew and can give rise to all blood lineages throughout their lifetime, yet the mechanisms regulating...     

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine in comparison with chloroquine in moderate and severe patients with COVID-19

Science China Life Sciences -     

ARL4C might serve as a prognostic factor and a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer: bioinformatics analyses and biological experiments

The ADP-ribosylation factor-like proteins (ARLs) have been proved to regulate the malignant phenotypes of several cancers. However, the exact role of ARLs in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. In this study, we systematically investigate the expression status, interactive relations, potential pathways, genetic variations and clinical values of ARLs in GC. We find that ARLs are significantly dysregulated in GC and involved in various cancer-related pathways. Subsequently, machine learning models identify ARL4C as one of the two most significant clinical indicators among ARLs for GC. Furthermore, ARL4C silencing remarkably inhibits the growth and metastasis of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, enrichment analysis indicates that ARL4C is highly correlated with TGF-β1 signalling. Correspondingly, TGF-β1 treatment dramatically increases ARL4C expression and ARL4C knockdown inhibits the phosphorylation level of Smads, downstream factors of TGF-β1. Meanwhile, the coexpression of ARL4C and TGF-β1 worsens the prognosis of GC patients. Our work comprehensively demonstrates the crucial role of ARLs in the carcinogenesis of GC and the specific mechanisms underlying the GC-promoting effects of TGF-β1. More importantly, we uncover the great promise of ARL4C-targeted therapy in improving the efficacy of TGF-β1 inhibitors for GC patients.     

The mechanism and prevention of mitochondrial injury after exercise

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - With the development of society, physical activity has come to be an effective means by which people pursue good health to improve the quality of life....