CPI-17-mediated contraction of vascular smooth muscle is essential for the development of hypertension in obese mice

Several factors have been implicated in obesity-related hypertension, but the genesis of the hypertension is largely unknown. In this study, we found a significantly upregulated expression of CPI-17(C-kinasepotentiated protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor of 17 kDa) and protein kinase C(PKC) isoforms in the vascular smooth muscles of high-fat diet(HFD)-fed obese mice. The obese wild-type mice showed a significant elevation of blood pressure and enhanced calcium-sensitized contraction of vascular smooth muscles. However, the obese CPI-17-deficient mice showed a normotensive blood pressure, and the calcium-sensitized contraction was consistently reduced. In addition, the mutant muscle displayed an abolished responsive force to a PKC activator and a 30%-50% reduction in both the initial peak force and sustained force in response to various G protein-coupled receptor(GPCR) agonists. Our observations showed that CPI-17-mediated calcium sensitization is mediated through a GPCR/PKC/CPI-17/MLCP/RLC signaling pathway. We therefore propose that the upregulation of CPI-17-mediated calcium-sensitized vasocontraction by obesity contributes to the development of obesity-related hypertension.     

DELAYED HEADING DATE1 interacts with OsHAP5C/D,delays flowering time and enhances yield in rice

Heading date is an important agronomic trait affecting crop yield. The GRAS protein family is a plant‐specific super family extensively involved in plant growth and signal transduction. However, GRAS proteins are rarely reported have a role in regulating rice heading date. Here, we report a GRAS protein DHD1 (Delayed Heading Date1) delays heading and enhances yield in rice. Biochemical assays showed DHD1 physically interacts with OsHAP5C/D both in vitro and in vivo. DHD1 and OsHAP5C/D located in the nucleus and showed that rhythmic expression. Both DHD1 and OsHAP5C/D affect heading date by regulating expression of Ehd1. We propose that DHD1 interacts with OsHAP5C/D to delay heading date by inhibiting expression of Ehd1.     

Comparative population genomics identified genomic regions and candidate genes associated with fruit domestication traits in peach

Crop evolution is a long‐term process involving selection by natural evolutionary forces and anthropogenic influences; however, the genetic mechanisms underlying the domestication and improvement of fruit crops have not been well studied to date. Here, we performed a population structure analysis in peach (Prunus persica) based on the genome‐wide resequencing of 418 accessions and confirmed the presence of an obvious domestication event during evolution. We identified 132 and 106 selective sweeps associated with domestication and improvement, respectively. Analysis of their tissue‐specific expression patterns indicated that the up‐regulation of selection genes during domestication occurred mostly in fruit and seeds as opposed to other organs. However, during the improvement stage, more up‐regulated selection genes were identified in leaves and seeds than in the other organs. Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) using 4.24 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed 171 loci associated with 26 fruit domestication traits. Among these loci, three candidate genes were highly associated with fruit weight and the sorbitol and catechin content in fruit. We demonstrated that as the allele frequency of the SNPs associated with high polyphenol composition decreased during peach evolution, alleles associated with high sugar content increased significantly. This indicates that there is genetic potential for the breeding of more nutritious fruit with enhanced bioactive polyphenols without disturbing a harmonious sugar and acid balance by crossing with wild species. This study also describes the development of the genomic resources necessary for evolutionary research in peach and provides the large‐scale characterization of key agronomic traits in this crop species.     

A metabolome‐based core hybridisation strategy for the prediction of rice grain weight across environments

Marker‐based prediction holds great promise for improving current plant and animal breeding efficiencies. However, the predictabilities of complex traits are always severely affected by negative factors, including distant relatedness, environmental discrepancies, unknown population structures, and indeterminate numbers of predictive variables. In this study, we utilised two independent F₁ hybrid populations in the years 2012 and 2015 to predict rice thousand grain weight (TGW) using parental untargeted metabolite profiles with a partial least squares regression method. A stable predictive model for TGW was built based on hybrids from the population in 2012 (r = 0.75) but failed to properly predict TGW for hybrids from the population in 2015 (r = 0.27). After integrating hybrids from both populations into the training set, the TGW of hybrids could be predicted but was largely dependent on population structures. Then, core hybrids from each population were determined by principal component analysis and the TGW of hybrids in both environments were successfully predicted (r > 0.60). Moreover, adjusting the population structures and numbers of predictive analytes increased TGW predictability for hybrids in 2015 (r = 0.72). Our study demonstrates that the TGW of F₁ hybrids across environments can be accurately predicted based on parental untargeted metabolite profiles with a core hybridisation strategy in rice. Metabolic biomarkers identified from early developmental stage tissues, which are grown under experimental conditions, may represent a workable approach towards the robust prediction of major agronomic traits for climate‐adaptive varieties.     

Nuclear fast red‐based colorimetric sensors for sensitive and selective detection of Ag ions

The reduction of nuclear fast red (NFR) stain by sodium tetrahydroboron was catalyzed in the presence of silver ions (Ag⁺). The fluorescence properties of reduced NFR differed from that of NFR. The product showed fluorescence emission at 480 nm with excitation at 369 nm. Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity of the mixture increased strongly in the presence of Ag⁺ and Britton–Robinson buffer at pH 4.78. There was a good linear relationship between increased fluorescence intensity (ΔI) and Ag⁺ concentration in the range 5.0 × 10^?9 to 5.0 × 10^?8 M. The correlation coefficient was 0.998, and the detection limit (3σ/k) was 1.5 × 10^?9 M. The colour of the reaction system changed with variation in Ag⁺ concentration over a wide range. Based on the colour change, a visual semiquantitative detection method for recognition and sensing of Ag⁺ was developed for the range 1.0 × 10^?8 to 5.0 × 10^?4 M, with an indicator that was visible to the naked eye. Therefore, a sensitive, simple method for determination of Ag⁺ was developed. Optimum conditions for Ag⁺ detection, the effect of other ions and the analytical application of Ag⁺ detection of synthesized sample were investigated.     

ACOT12-Dependent Alteration of Acetyl-CoA Drives Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Epigenetic Induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

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Cooling Induced Surface Reconstruction during Synthesis of High‐Ni Layered Oxides

Transition metal layered oxides have been the dominant cathodes in lithium‐ion batteries, and among them, high‐Ni ones (LiNi_xMn_yCo_zO₂; x ≥ 0.7) with greatly boosted capacity and reduced cost are of particular interest for large‐scale applications. The high Ni loading, on the other hand, raises the critical issues of surface instability and poor rate performance. The rational design of synthesis leading to layered LiNi_0.7Mn_0.15Co_0.15O₂ with greatly enhanced rate capability is demonstrated, by implementing a quenching process alternative to the general slow cooling. In situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, coupled with surface analysis, is applied to studies of the synthesis process, revealing cooling‐induced surface reconstruction involving Li₂CO₃ accumulation, formation of a Li‐deficient layer and Ni reduction at the particle surface. The reconstruction process occurs predominantly at high temperatures (above 350 °C) and is highly cooling‐rate dependent, implying that surface reconstruction can be suppressed through synthetic control, i.e., quenching to improve the surface stability and rate performance of the synthesized materials. These findings may provide guidance to rational synthesis of high‐Ni cathode materials.     

Hydrologic balance,net primary productivity and water use efficiency of the introduced exotic Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla plantation in south-western China

Aims Land cover changes can disrupt water balance and alter the partitioning of precipitation into surface runoff, evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge. The widely plantedEucalyptustrees in south-western China have the potential to bring about hydrologic impacts. Our research aims to elucidate the hydrologic balance characteristics of the introduced exoticEucalyptus grandis×Eucalyptus urophyllaplantation and to assess whether its high productivity results from high water use efficiency (WUE) or large water consumption.