Overexpression of the chitinase gene CmCH1 from Coniothyrium minitans renders enhanced resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean

Transgenic Research - Pathogenic fungi represent one of the major biotic stresses for soybean production across the world. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot, is a...     

The complete chloroplast genome of Myriophyllum spicatum reveals a 4‐kb inversion and new insights regarding plastome evolution in Haloragaceae

Myriophyllum, among the most species‐rich genera of aquatic angiosperms with ca. 68 species, is an extensively distributed hydrophyte lineage in the cosmopolitan family Haloragaceae. The chloroplast (cp) genome is useful in the study of genetic evolution, phylogenetic analysis, and molecular dating of controversial taxa. Here, we sequenced and assembled the whole chloroplast genome of Myriophyllum spicatum L. and compared it to other species in the order Saxifragales. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of M. spicatum is 158,858 bp long and displays a quadripartite structure with two inverted repeats (IR) separating the large single copy (LSC) region from the small single copy (SSC) region. Based on sequence identification and the phylogenetic analysis, a 4‐kb phylogenetically informative inversion between trnE‐trnC in Myriophyllum was determined, and we have placed this inversion on a lineage specific to Myriophyllum and its close relatives. The divergence time estimation suggested that the trnE‐trnC inversion possibly occurred between the upper Cretaceous (72.54 MYA) and middle Eocene (47.28 MYA) before the divergence of Myriophyllum from its most recent common ancestor. The unique 4‐kb inversion might be caused by an occurrence of nonrandom recombination associated with climate changes around the K‐Pg boundary, making it interesting for future evolutionary investigations.     

Land masses and oceanic currents drive population structure of Heritiera littoralis,a widespread mangrove in the Indo‐West Pacific

Phylogeographic forces driving evolution of sea‐dispersed plants are often influenced by regional and species characteristics, although not yet deciphered at a large spatial scale for many taxa like the mangrove species Heritiera littoralis. This study aimed to assess geographic distribution of genetic variation of this widespread mangrove in the Indo‐West Pacific region and identify the phylogeographic factors influencing its present‐day distribution. Analysis of five chloroplast DNA fragments’ sequences from 37 populations revealed low genetic diversity at the population level and strong genetic structure of H. littoralis in this region. The estimated divergence times between the major genetic lineages indicated that glacial level changes during the Pleistocene epoch induced strong genetic differentiation across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In comparison to the strong genetic break imposed by the Sunda Shelf toward splitting the lineages of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the genetic differentiation between Indo‐Malesia and Australasia was not so prominent. Long‐distance dispersal ability of H. littoralis propagules helped the species to attain transoceanic distribution not only across South East Asia and Australia, but also across the Indian Ocean to East Africa. However, oceanic circulation pattern in the South China Sea was found to act as a barrier creating further intraoceanic genetic differentiation. Overall, phylogeographic analysis in this study revealed that glacial vicariance had profound influence on population differentiation in H. littoralis and caused low genetic diversity except for the refugia populations near the equator which might have persisted through glacial maxima. With increasing loss of suitable habitats due to anthropogenic activities, these findings therefore emphasize the urgent need for conservation actions for all populations throughout the distribution range of H. littoralis.     

The circular RNA circSlc7a11 promotes bone cancer pain pathogenesis in rats by modulating LLC-WRC 256 cell proliferation and apoptosis

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Treatment of bone cancer pain (BCP) caused by bone metastasis in advanced cancers remains a challenge in clinical oncology, and the underlying mechanisms of...     

Autophagy in Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma: from bench to bedside

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC) characterized by the rearrangement of the TFE3 is recently identified as a unique subtype of RCC that urgently...     

Elastin-like polypeptide and γ-zein fusions significantly increase recombinant protein accumulation in soybean seeds

Transgenic Research - Soybean seeds are an ideal host for the production of recombinant proteins because of their high content of proteins, long-term stability of seed proteins under ambient...     

基于MODIS-EVI的西南地区植被覆盖时空变化及驱动因素研究

基于MODIS-EVI和气象数据,利用最大值合成法、像元二分模型、趋势分析和相关分析等方法,探讨了西南地区2001-2015年植被覆盖时空变化特征及其对气候因子的响应,并分析了温度和降水对植被覆盖时空变化的驱动作用。结果表明：（1）2001-2015年,西南地区植被EVI以0.1%/a的变化率呈波动增加趋势,但空间异质性显著,呈现出从东南向西北逐渐递减的趋势;（2）西南地区以高和极高植被覆盖度为主,极低植被覆盖度区域约占研究区总面积的8.6%,植被覆盖度增加的区域集中分布在广西省北海-钦州、贵州省邵通-毕节-遵义、四川省广元-广安以及西藏那曲等地区,植被覆盖度呈减少趋势区域主要集中在西藏拉萨-阿里地区和四川成都-阿坝州-甘孜州等地区;（3）植被EVI与同期温度和降水相关性较好,均以正相关为主。在0.05显著水平下,受降水驱动的区域呈斑块状分布在西藏自治区和青海省交界处,以及云南和广西部分地区,约占研究区总面积的3.4%;受温度驱动的区域零星分布在各省、自治区,约占研究区总面积的1.6%;受温度和降水共同驱动的区域约占研究区总面积的7.2%,主要分布在西藏自治区的阿里地区北部,青海省的三江源地区以及四川和贵州两省交界处的小部分地区;西南地区大部分区域的植被EVI指数变化表现为非气候因素驱动。     

基于增强回归树与区域增温敏感性指数的城市升温效应空间分异

热岛效应已成为城市化进程中备受关注的城市生态环境问题。有关城市热岛效应的研究对区域在地表升温过程中的空间分异关注尚不足。通过设计区域增温敏感性指数,借助增强回归树（boosted regression tree,BRT）机器学习算法,量化城市不同区域在地表升温过程中的敏感性差异。结果表明：（1）上海市各辖区增温敏感性从高至低依次是：黄浦区、杨浦区、虹口区、静安区、普陀区、徐汇区、长宁区、宝山区、闵行区、浦东新区、嘉定区、奉贤区、松江区、青浦区、金山区、崇明区;（2）区域增温敏感性在不同的温度梯度下具有明显差异,在高温梯度下区域间指数值的差异最大;（3）地表覆被的增温敏感性存在明显的区域分异特性;（4）基于BRT的增温敏感性指数具有较好的指示意义和较高的灵敏度。在城市热环境持续恶化背景下,探讨城市异质空间中地表温度变化的敏感性可为城市热环境调控提供科学依据。