Ultra‐high α‐linolenic acid accumulating developmental defective embryo was rescued by lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2

For decades, genetic engineering approaches to produce unusual fatty acids (UFAs) in crops has reached a bottleneck, including reduced seed oil production and seed vigor. Currently, plant models in the field of research are primarily used to investigate defects in oil production and seedling development, while the role of UFAs in embryonic developmental defects remains unknown. In this study, we developed a transgenic Arabidopsis plant model, in which the embryo exhibits severely wrinkled appearance owing to α‐linolenic acid (ALA) accumulation. RNA‐sequencing analysis in the defective embryo suggested that brassinosteroid synthesis, FA synthesis and photosynthesis were inhibited, while FA degradation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress were activated. Lipidomics analysis showed that ultra‐accumulated ALA is released from phosphatidylcholine as a free FA in cells, inducing severe endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress. Furthermore, we identified that overexpression of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2 rescued the defective phenotype. In the rescue line, the pool capacity of the Kennedy pathway was increased, and the esterification of ALA indirectly to triacylglycerol was enhanced to avoid stress. This study provides a plant model that aids in understanding the molecular mechanism of embryonic developmental defects and generates strategies to produce higher levels of UFAs.     

Overexpression of the persimmon abscisic acid β‐glucosidase gene (DkBG1) alters fruit ripening in transgenic tomato

β‐Glucosidases (BG) are present in many plant tissues. Among these, abscisic acid (ABA) β‐glucosidases are thought to take part in the adjustment of cellular ABA levels, however the role of ABA‐BG in fruits is still unclear. In this study, through RNA‐seq analysis of persimmon fruit, 10 full‐length DkBG genes were isolated and were all found to be expressed. In particular, DkBG1 was highly expressed in persimmon fruits with a maximum expression 95 days after full bloom (DAFD). We verified that, in vitro, DkBG1 protein can hydrolyze ABA‐glucose ester (ABA‐GE) to release free ABA. Compared with wild‐type, tomato plants that overexpressed DkBG1 significantly upregulated the expression of ABA receptor PYL3/7 genes and showed typical symptoms of ABA hypersensitivity in fruits. DkBG1 overexpression (DkBG1‐OE) accelerated fruit ripening onset by 3–4 days by increasing ABA levels at the pre‐breaker stage and induced early ethylene release compared with wild‐type fruits. DkBG1‐OE altered the expression of ripening regulator NON‐RIPENING (NOR) and its target genes; this in turn altered fruit quality traits such as coloration. Our results demonstrated that DkBG1 plays an important role in fruit ripening and quality by adjusting ABA levels via hydrolysis of ABA‐GE.     

The crosstalk between lncRNAs and the Hippo signalling pathway in cancer progression

LncRNAs play a pivotal role in the regulation of epigenetic modification, cell cycle, differentiation, proliferation, migration and other physiological activities. In particular, considerable studies have shown that the aberrant expression and dysregulation of lncRNAs are widely implicated in cancer initiation and progression by acting as tumour promoters or suppressors. Hippo signalling pathway has attracted researchers’ attention as one of the critical cancer‐related pathways in recent years. Increasing evidences have demonstrated that lncRNAs could interact with Hippo cascade and thereby contribute to acquisition of multiple malignant hallmarks, including proliferation, metastasis, relapse and resistance to anti‐cancer treatment. Specifically, Hippo signalling pathway is reported to modulate or be regulated by widespread lncRNAs. Intriguingly, certain lncRNAs could form a reciprocal feedback loop with Hippo signalling. More speculatively, lncRNAs related to Hippo pathway have been poised to become important putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human cancers. Herein, this review focuses on the crosstalk between lncRNAs and Hippo pathway in carcinogenesis, summarizes the comprehensive role of Hippo‐related lncRNAs in tumour progression and depicts their clinical diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic potentials in tumours.     

Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.     

二氢乳清酸脱氢酶的结构特征和催化循环研究进展

二氢乳清酸脱氢酶是黄素依赖的线粒体酶,它催化嘧啶从头合成的第4步反应,将二氢乳清酸氧化为乳清酸。通过选择性抑制二氢乳清酸脱氢酶,从而抑制嘧啶的合成,已被开发用于治疗癌症、自身免疫性疾病、细菌或病毒感染以及寄生虫疾病等。抑制剂的开发需详细了解二氢乳清酸脱氢酶的结构特征和催化循环机制。因此,文中主要从这两个方面进行了综述,并展望了该酶的抑制剂在临床应用中的前景。     

不同除草剂的田间杂草防效及对糜子生长发育的影响

筛选糜子适宜除草剂来防范农田药害,是糜子高效安全生产和改善生态环境亟待解决的关键问题。本研究以粳性糜子品种‘榆糜2号'为材料,探究22种除草剂对糜子田间杂草的防除效果及对糜子生长发育的影响。结果表明: 1)喷施土壤封闭型除草剂谷友、丁草胺、莠去津、苄嘧·丙草胺和茎叶型除草剂苯唑·二甲钠、阔世玛、藤净、陶氏·优先、阔菲后,基本无药害作用,糜子幼苗生长正常,其余除草剂均对糜子有不同程度的药害影响;2)参试的22种除草剂在糜子田中对杂草均表现出一定的防除效果,总体而言,土壤封闭型除草剂的杂草防效相对优于茎叶型除草剂,但所有参试除草剂对糜子株高、功能叶片叶绿素含量、单株穗重均造成不同程度的影响;3)与人工除草相比,参试除草剂均导致糜子产量有不同程度的下降;但与不除草对照相比,部分除草剂有明显的增产增效作用。土壤封闭型除草剂中,谷友、丁草胺、莠去津、苄嘧·丙草胺的杂草防效较好,较不除草对照增产60%以上;茎叶型除草剂中,阔世玛、苯唑·二甲钠的杂草防效较好,较不除草对照增产50%以上。因此,在糜子出苗前可用38%莠去津或44%单嘧磺隆进行土壤封闭处理,或在出苗后喷施茎叶型除草剂3.6%二磺·甲碘隆或55%苯唑·二甲钠,农田杂草防效较好,且对糜子生长发育的负面影响较小。     

末次盛冰期以来观光木的潜在地理分布变迁

观光木(Tsoongiodendron odorum)是木兰科的古老残遗物种, 目前正面临严峻的生存威胁, 属于极小种群濒危植物。通过生态位模型(ENM)能够重建观光木地理分布格局的历史变迁, 探究气候变化对该物种分布的影响, 并了解其地理分布与气候需求间的关系, 从而为全球变暖背景下观光木的保护提供理论基础。该文基于96条现代分布记录和8个环境变量, 采用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型模拟观光木在末次盛冰期、全新世中期、现代和未来(2061-2080年, RCP 8.5)的潜在分布区, 利用SDM toolbox分析观光木的地理空间变化, 并综合贡献率、置换重要值和Jackknife检验来评估气候因子的重要性。研究结果表明: (1)观光木的高度适生区在南岭地区, 末次盛冰期时没有大尺度向南退缩, 很可能在山区避难所原地存活; (2)在全新世中期和未来两个增温的气候情境下, 观光木的分布区均表现为缩减, 其中未来分布的减幅更大, 表明气候变暖对观光木的生长有一定的负面影响; (3)总体上看, 观光木各个时期的地理分布范围相对稳定, 说明观光木对气候变化有一定的适应能力, 人为活动或自身繁育问题可能是致濒的重要原因, 并建议对广东和广西群体进行优先保护。     

生态系统服务功能与景观格局耦合协调度研究——以武陵山区退耕还林工程为例

生态系统服务功能与景观格局演变关系极为密切,研究生态系统服务功能与景观格局的耦合协调度对于区域发展具有重要意义。以武陵山区退耕还林工程为例,参照国家标准和行业标准,采用分布式测算方法、景观格局指数分析和耦合协调度模型等方法,旨在揭示武陵山区退耕还林工程生态系统服务功能与景观格局二者耦合协调关系。结果表明:(1)2005—2017年间武陵山区退耕还林工程各项生态服务功能物质量均以15倍左右速度增长,生态系统服务空间分布格局最佳区域由西部地区逐渐向东南扩大;(2)武陵山区景观演变存在时空差异,1995—2005年景观格局变化更为明显,变化区域集中在中西部地区,2005—2015年与之相比,景观格局变化空间上更为分散;(3)武陵山区退耕还林工程生态系统服务与景观格局演变存在较高水平的耦合以及高水平的协调性。研究结果可为武陵山区土地利用规划及退耕还林工程进一步实施提供科学依据。     

重点生态功能区农户的生计风险多维感知及影响因素——以甘南黄河水源补给区为例

重点生态功能区承担着保护与修复生态环境、提供生态产品的重要任务,农户作为该区最重要的生态保护主体,面临着多重风险的冲击,其对生计风险的多维感知不仅会影响其生产行为决策,更关系到重点生态功能区主体功能的发挥,因此,急需准确地了解农户的生计风险多维感知及影响因素,为制定有效的生计风险防范体系提供借鉴。以甘南黄河水源补给区为例,基于多维度生计风险感知测量框架,利用入户调查数据,分析了农户的生计风险感知,并采用经济计量模型分析了影响农户生计风险感知的关键因素。结果表明:①甘南黄河水源补给区农户面临的主要生计风险为家庭发展需求风险、健康风险、社会风险,且重点保护区农户面临环境风险、家庭发展需求风险、政策风险的比例均显著高于恢复治理区和经济示范区农户。②农户对家庭发展需求风险的熟悉性、自愿性、持续性感知均最高,对健康风险的恐慌性、严重性及可能性感知均最高,对社会风险的可控性感知最高。其中,重点保护区农户对政策、市场及健康风险的可控性感知均高于其他区域。③人力资本对可能性感知、严重性感知、恐慌性感知、熟悉性感知产生了显著影响;物质资本对自愿性感知产生了显著影响。最后,提出了农户防范生计风险的对策建议。     

多重压力下重点生态功能区农户生计脆弱性——以甘南黄河水源补给区为例

农户作为农村社会中最小的生计单元,面临着多重压力的冲击,这些压力不仅加剧了重点生态功能区农户的生计脆弱性,更威胁到该区生态服务功能的提升,当前亟需准确评估多重压力下农户的生计脆弱性,为制定可持续的生计政策提供借鉴。以甘南黄河水源补给区为例,利用入户调查数据,评估了多重压力下农户的生计脆弱性,分析了多重压力下农户生计脆弱性的形成过程。结果发现：（1）家人患病、子女学费开支高和自然灾害三种生计压力对甘南黄河水源补给区农户生计的影响最为剧烈,经济压力是该区农户面临最频繁的压力类型,但自然压力对该区农户的生计脆弱性影响最大;（2）经济示范区农户的生计敏感性最高,重点保护区农户的适应能力最低;（3）重点保护区农户的生计脆弱性最高,经济示范区次之,恢复治理区最低,自然压力冲击下农户的生计脆弱性最高;（4）不同类型的生计压力影响农户生计脆弱性的路径不同,自然压力通过影响自然资源依赖度与自然资本、社会压力通过影响饮水条件与社会资本、经济压力通过影响家庭抚养比与金融资本来影响生计脆弱性,生计压力之间的交互作用会增强农户的生计脆弱性。