Development and utilization of a new chemically‐induced soybean library with a high mutation density

Mutagenized populations have provided important materials for introducing variation and identifying gene function in plants. In this study, an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)‐induced soybean (Glycine max) population, consisting of 21,600 independent M₂ lines, was developed. Over 1,000 M_{4 (5)} families, with diverse abnormal phenotypes for seed composition, seed shape, plant morphology and maturity that are stably expressed across different environments and generations were identified. Phenotypic analysis of the population led to the identification of a yellow pigmentation mutant, gyl, that displayed significantly decreased chlorophyll (Chl) content and abnormal chloroplast development. Sequence analysis showed that gyl is allelic to MinnGold, where a different single nucleotide polymorphism variation in the Mg‐chelatase subunit gene (ChlI1a) results in golden yellow leaves. A cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker was developed and may be applied to marker‐assisted selection for the golden yellow phenotype in soybean breeding. We show that the newly developed soybean EMS mutant population has potential for functional genomics research and genetic improvement in soybean.     

Suppression of histone deacetylase 1 by JSL-1 attenuates the progression and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma via the TPX2/Snail axis

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are entwined with the pathogenesis of various cancers and potentially serve as promising therapeutic targets. Herein, we intend to explore the potential role of HDAC1 inhibitor (JSL-1) in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and to highlight the molecular basis of its function. As shown by bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical detection, high HDAC1 expression was witnessed in CC tissues relative to matched controls from patients with cholecystitis. The molecular network that HDAC1 silencing reduced the enrichment of HDAC1 and Snail on the TPX2 promoter was identified using immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Both short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of HDAC1 and JSL-1 treatment exhibited anti-proliferative, anti-migration and anti-invasion effects on CC cells through downregulation of TPX2. The in vivo xenograft model was developed in nude mice. Consistently, the anti-tumorigenic and anti-metastatic properties of shRNA against HDAC1 and HDAC1 inhibitor were validated in the in vivo settings. Taken together, our data supported the notion that HDAC1 inhibitor retards the initiation and development of CC via mediating the TPX2/Snail axis, highlighting the anti-tumor molecular network functioned in CC.Subject terms: Cancer, Diseases     

基于RS和转移矩阵的泾河流域生态承载力时空动态评价

利用泾河流域1986、1995、2000、2008年4期遥感数据和转移矩阵分析方法,在GIS平台上,对该流域近23a的生态承载力时空变化进行了定量评价和空间化表达,结果表明,泾河流域生态承载力空间分布极不均匀,整体呈南高北低,并由东南向西北递减,由上游向下游递增的空间变化趋势,表现出与流域地貌特征,土地利用/覆被和环境禀赋相关联的地理特性和空间异质性;随着时间的推移,全流域生态承载力呈逐年降低趋势,尤其以2000年以后下降趋势明显,但流域内部不同区域的生态承载力及其各类土地生态承载力的变化幅度与趋势各有不同;3个时段内(1986-1995年、1995-2000年、2000-2008年)流域各类土地生态承载力转换频繁,转向趋势明显,且以2000年为拐点,前两时段以林地和草地生态承载力向耕地和建筑用地生态承载力转移为主,后一时段以耕地和建筑用地生态承载力向林地和草地生态承载力转移为主,导致近23a来泾河流域生态承载力及其内部组成变化均较大,说明土地利用/覆被的变化是流域生态承载力变化的主导因素,而1999年以后国家实施的退耕还林还草生态工程则是2000-2008年该流域生态承载力变化的主要驱动力。     

中国农业环境效率时空演变及其驱动因素

农业环境效率是衡量经济与资源环境协调发展的重要指标,研究农业环境效率对实现农业资源的高效率利用具有重要意义。基于2004-2019年中国30个省（市、区）面板数据,运用SBM （Slacks-based model）模型、空间马尔科夫链、GIS技术和空间计量模型,分析了农业环境效率的时空演变特征,研究了农业环境效率变动的驱动因素。结果表明：（1）2004-2019年,考虑非期望产出的农业环境效率要低于不考虑非期望产出情况,呈持续上升趋势;区域差异整体呈倒"V "型变化趋势,东西方向上递减,南北方向上呈" U"型趋势特征。（2）中国不同等级的农业环境效率空间差异明显,地理空间格局在空间演变过程具有重要作用,空间关联性特征显著,不同类型的演变存在显著的时空惯性。（3）中国农业环境效率存在空间溢出效应,农业经济水平、环境规制、农业生产能力是提升农业环境效率的关键因素,财政支农水平、工业化水平、农作物种植结构、农业机械强度则是制约效率提升的约束要素。     

Screening and identification of a specific peptide binding to hepatocellular carcinoma cells from a phage display peptide library

To screen and identify the novel probe markers binding hepatocellular carcinoma specifically and sensitively, a phage‐displayed 12‐mer peptide library was used to make biopanning with the modified protocols on HepG2 cells. After four rounds of panning, the consensus sequences were obtained, and the PC28, a phage clone with most specific and sensitive binding to HepG2 cells, was identified as the best positive clone. The peptide probe HCSP4 (sequence SLDSTHTHAPWP) was synthesized based on the sequencing result of PC28. The specificity and sensitivity of HCSP4 were primarily analyzed using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and other methods. The results show that HCSP4 can bind to hepatocellular carcinoma cells with satisfactory specificity and sensitivity. It may be a promising lead candidate for molecular imaging and targeted drug delivery in the diagnosis and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.