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.     

Critical Structure Sparing in Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Central Lung Lesions: Helical Tomotherapy vs. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy

Background

Helical tomotherapy (HT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are both advanced techniques of delivering intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Here, we conduct a study to compare HT and partial-arc VMAT in their ability to spare organs at risk (OARs) when stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is delivered to treat centrally located early stage non-small-cell lung cancer or lung metastases.

Methods

12 patients with centrally located lung lesions were randomly chosen. HT, 2 & 8 arc (Smart Arc, Pinnacle v9.0) plans were generated to deliver 70 Gy in 10 fractions to the planning target volume (PTV). Target and OAR dose parameters were compared. Each technique’s ability to meet dose constraints was further investigated.

Results

HT and VMAT plans generated essentially equivalent PTV coverage and dose conformality indices, while a trend for improved dose homogeneity by increasing from 2 to 8 arcs was observed with VMAT. Increasing the number of arcs with VMAT also led to some improvement in OAR sparing. After normalizing to OAR dose constraints, HT was found to be superior to 2 or 8-arc VMAT for optimal OAR sparing (meeting all the dose constraints) (p = 0.0004). All dose constraints were met in HT plans. Increasing from 2 to 8 arcs could not help achieve optimal OAR sparing for 4 patients. 2/4 of them had 3 immediately adjacent structures.

Conclusion

HT appears to be superior to VMAT in OAR sparing mainly in cases which require conformal dose avoidance of multiple immediately adjacent OARs. For such cases, increasing the number of arcs in VMAT cannot significantly improve OAR sparing.     

Combination of 1,4-naphthoquinone with benzothiazoles had selective algicidal effects against harmful algae

A series of naphthoquinone-benzothiazole conjugates were synthesized as algicides, and their efficacies against harmful algal blooming species, such as Chattonella marina, Heterosigma akashiwo and Cochlodinium polykrikoides, were examined. The introduction of substituted benzothiazole at the C2 position of 1,4-naphthoquinone (compounds 1–9) resulted in higher algicidal activity against C. polykrikoides than the C6 conjugates (compounds 10–20). On the other hand, of the C6 conjugates, compounds 11 and 12 exhibited better algicidal activity against H. akashiwo, C. marina, and C. polykrikoides than the C2 conjugates. Further structure-activity analysis indicated that a replacement of the methoxy groups with hydroxyl groups (compounds 21–26) decreased the algicidal activity significantly. Among the various synthetic naphthoquinonebezothiazole conjugates tested, compound 12 was found to affect the most significant decrease in the level of C. polykrikoides growth, with an IC₅₀ of 0.19 μM. Compound 11 was found to be the most potent inhibitor against H. akashiwo and C. polykrikoides, with IC₅₀ values of 0.32 and 0.12 μM, respectively. Overall, these results highlight a possible method for controlling and inhibiting red tide forming algae using NQ derivatives.     

根据中肠病变程度估计松毛虫CPV产量和采收时机

将感染质型多角体病毒的松毛虫中肠分为四种类型 ,研究各型所占比例与病毒产量间的关系 ,结果显示单位虫重的病毒产量随Ⅰ、Ⅱ类比例的增大而增高 ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ类比例为 2 1% - 80 %时 ,每公斤虫的病毒产量为 5.59× 10 10 PIB - 55.2 1× 10 10 PIB ,适宜的采收时机为Ⅰ、Ⅱ类比例为 60 % -80 %时 ,此时采收 ,每公斤虫可产出质型多角体病毒 37.2 1× 10 10 PIB～ 55.2 1× 10 10 PIB     

Over-expression of Roquin aggravates T cell mediated hepatitis in transgenic mice using T cell specific promoter

Chronic hepatitis is a major cause of liver cancer, so earlier treatment of hepatitis might be reducing liver cancer incidence. Hepatitis can be induced in mice by treatment with Concanavalin A (Con A); the resulting liver injury causes significant CD4⁺ T cell activation and infiltration. In these T cells, Roquin, a ring-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, is activated. To investigate the role of Roquin, we examined Con A-induced liver injury and T cell infiltration in transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing Roquin specifically in T cells. In Roquin Tg mice, Con A treatment caused greater increases in both the levels of liver injury enzymes and liver tissue apoptosis, as revealed by TUNEL and H&E staining, than wild type (WT) mice. Further, Roquin Tg mice respond to Con A treatment with greater increases in the T cell population, particularly Th17 cells, though Treg cell counts are lower. Roquin overexpression also enhances increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6, upon liver injury. Furthermore, Roquin regulates the immune response and apoptosis in Con A induced hepatitis via STATs, Bax and Bcl2. These findings suggest that over-expression of Roquin exacerbates T-cell mediated hepatitis.     

A Novel Class of Herbicides (Specific Inhibitors of Imidazoleglycerol Phosphate Dehydratase)

A new mode of herbicidal action was established by finding specific inhibitors of imidazoleglycerol phosphate dehydratase, an enzyme of histidine (His) biosynthesis. Three triazole phosphonates inhibited the reaction of the enzyme with Ki values of 40 [plus or minus] 6.5, 10 [plus or minus] 1.6, and 8.5 [plus or minus] 1.4 nM, respectively, and were highly cytotoxic to cultured plant cells. This effect was completely reversed by the addition of His, proving that the cytotoxicity was primarily caused by the inhibition of His biosynthesis. These inhibitors showed wide-spectrum, postemergent herbicidal activity at application rates ranging from 0.05 to 2 kg/ha.     

蕹菜的DAPI显带核型

利用一种新的DAPI显带技术分析了蕹菜染色体的DAPI带型及其异染色质的分布,建立了类似于G带的蕹菜DA PI带模式图,为蕹菜的细胞遗传学研究、育种和资源的开发利用提供帮助。     

桐花树五环三萜化学成分的研究

从桐花树树皮的乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯部分分离到3个化合物,利用波谱技术分别鉴定为protoprimulagenin(1),embelinone(2)和aegicerin(3),其中化合物1和2是首次从该植物中分离到。     

慢病毒靶向携带Survivin siRNA抗肺腺癌的体内研究

目的:探讨慢病毒载体介导的靶向survivin基因小干涉RNA(survivin-siRNA)对裸鼠移植人肺腺癌的体内抑瘤活性。方法:构建表达survivin-siRNA的慢病毒载体和移植人肺腺癌裸鼠模型,肿瘤组织局部注射survivin-siRNA慢病毒载体,观察肿瘤体积及随时间生长变化;PI染色检测细胞凋亡;流式细胞术检测肿瘤细胞周期变化。结果:慢病毒载体介导survivin-siRNA对裸鼠肺腺癌的抑瘤率为46.07%;30～35%的肿瘤细胞凋亡;G1期细胞比例明显增加,S期细胞比例则明显减少。结论:靶向survivin的RNAi能有效抑制裸鼠移植人肺腺癌的生长,诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡和细胞周期改变。