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.     

海洋细菌Pseudomonas sp．抗菌代谢产物的研究

从海洋细菌Pseudomonas sp.发酵液中分离鉴定9个环二肽和2个苯环类化合物,经波谱鉴定为环(酪氨酸-脯氨酸)(1),环(酪氨酸-异亮氨酸)(2),环(苯丙氨酸-脯氨酸)(3),环(缬氨酸-脯氨酸)(4),环(异亮氨酸-脯氨酸)(5),环(亮氨酸-脯氨酸)(6),环(丙氨酸-脯氨酸)(7),环(缬氨酸-丙氨酸)(8),环(丙氨酸-亮氨酸)(9),对羟基苯甲醛(10),二-(2-乙基己基)邻苯二甲酸酯(11).其中化合物1～4对多种海洋细菌显示一定的抗菌活性.     

Manifold active-state conformations in GPCRs: agonist-activated constitutively active mutant AT1 receptor preferentially couples to Gq compared to the wild-type AT1 receptor

The angiotensin II type I (AT(1)) receptor mediates regulation of blood pressure and water-electrolyte balance by Ang II. Substitution of Gly for Asn(111) of the AT(1) receptor constitutively activates the receptor leading to Gq-coupled IP(3) production independent of Ang II binding. The Ang II-activated conformation of the AT1(N111G) receptor was proposed to be similar to that of the wild-type AT(1) receptor, although, various aspects of the Ang II-induced conformation of this constitutively active mutant receptor have not been systematically studied. Here, we provide evidence that the conformation of the active state of the wild-type and the constitutively active AT(1) receptors are different. Upon Ang II binding an activated conformation of the wild-type AT(1) receptor activates G protein and recruits beta-arrestin. In contrast, the agonist-bound AT1(N111G) mutant receptor preferentially couples to Gq and is inadequate in beta-arrestin recruitment.     

在cDNA文库构建中探究癌症病人血浆外泌体miRNA的特异性扩增

血浆外泌体微小核糖核酸(microRNAs,miRNAs)与癌症的发生、诊断和治疗密切相关,但其分子机制尚不明晰。本研究探讨了癌症病人血浆外泌体miRNAs在cDNA文库构建中非特异性扩增的解决方案。在酶切法中,采用核酸外切酶T (exonuclease T, EXOT)和phi29 DNA聚合酶降解引物;在磁珠法中,利用DNA结合磁珠分离模板和引物。随后,采取琼脂糖凝胶电泳和变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测磁珠分离情况,运用RT-qPCR检测癌症病人血浆外泌体miRNA和不同连接物的含量变化。结果显示,非特异性扩增来源于miRNA的连接物USR5SR;核酸外切酶T (EXOT)和phi29 DNA聚合酶虽可降解USR5SR,但模板链也会发生降解;磁珠分离法中以9%PEG沉淀引物片段、15%PEG沉淀模板链效果最佳。综上所述,磁珠分离法能够高效解决cDNA文库构建中的非特异性扩增,从而实现293T细胞和癌症病人血浆外泌体miRNA cDNA文库的成功构建。     

Assessment of alcohol percentage test for fungal surface hydrophobicity measurement

Aim: To determine whether assessing the penetration of solutions with different concentrations of ethanol (alcohol percentage test: APT) on fungal surfaces is effective in characterization of hydrophobicity on fungal surfaces. Methods and Results: APT and contact angle (CA) measurements were conducted on nine hydrophobic and two hydrophilic fungal strains from the phyla of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Zygomycota. There was a strong positive correlation (R² = 0·95) between the APT and CA measurements from eight of the nine hydrophobic stains (four pathogenic and mycotoxigenic Fusarium taxa, one melanosporaceous biotrophic taxon, Alternaria sp, Penicillium aurantiogriseum and Cladosporium cladosporioides). Hydrophilic control strains, Mortierella hyalina and Laccaria laccata, had CAs <90° and no measurable degree of hydrophobicity using the APT method. Conclusions: The APT method was effective in measuring the degree of hydrophobicity and can be conducted on different zones of fungal growth. Significance and Impact of the Study: Characterization of fungal surface hydrophobicity is important for understanding of its particular role and function in fungal morphogenesis and pathogenesis. APT is a simple method that can be utilized for fungal hydrophobicity measurements when CA cannot be measured because of obscured view from aerial mycelia growth.     

Bmp2 regulates Serpinb6b expression via cAMP/PKA/Wnt4 pathway during uterine decidualization

Serpinb6b is a novel member of Serpinb family and found in germ and somatic cells of mouse gonads, but its physiological function in uterine decidualization remains unclear. The present study revealed that abundant Serpinb6b was noted in decidual cells, and advanced the proliferation and differentiation of stromal cells, indicating a creative role of Serpinb6b in uterine decidualization. Further analysis found that Serpinb6b modulated the expression of Mmp2 and Mmp9. Meanwhile, Serpinb6b was identified as a target of Bmp2 regulation in stromal differentiation. Treatment with rBmp2 resulted in an accumulation of intracellular cAMP level whose function in this differentiation program was mediated by Serpinb6b. Addition of PKA inhibitor H89 impeded the Bmp2 induction of Serpinb6b, whereas 8‐Br‐cAMP rescued the defect of Serpinb6b expression elicited by Bmp2 knock‐down. Attenuation of Serpinb6b greatly reduced the induction of constitutive Wnt4 activation on stromal cell differentiation. By contrast, overexpression of Serpinb6b prevented this inhibition of differentiation process by Wnt4 siRNA. Moreover, blockage of Wnt4 abrogated the up‐regulation of cAMP on Serpinb6b. Collectively, Serpinb6b mediates uterine decidualization via Mmp2/9 in response to Bmp2/cAMP/PKA/Wnt4 pathway.