Effects of Exogenous Application of GA4+7 and NAA on Sugar Accumulation and Related Gene Expression in Peach Fruits During Developing and Ripening Stages

Sweetness is one of the key factors determining peach fruit quality. To better understand the molecular basis of gibberellic acid (GA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) interference with sugar biosynthesis, a middle-late maturing commercial cultivar, ‘Jinxiu’ yellow peach fruit, was treated with three different concentrations of GA₄₊₇ and four of NAA. Fruit weight, firmness, total soluble solids, different sugar contents and the expression level of sugar-related genes were evaluated. The results showed that maximum increase in cv. ‘Jinxiu’ peach fruit size and sucrose content was with 1.25 mM GA₄₊₇, compared to control fruits and the other treatments during the ripening stages. The sucrose-phosphate synthase gene (PpSPS₂) which had a high level of expression and positive correlation with sucrose content was significantly regulated by 1.25 mM GA₄₊₇ in the final ripening stages. 0.5 mM NAA treatments significantly reduced the sucrose content and fruit size. Ninety percent of the fruits were deformed or dropped from the trees with treatments of 1 mM NAA and 2 mM NAA in the early development period. The crosstalk of different phytohormones and the related genes will be further investigated to get an insight into the inherent association between hormone control and sugar accumulation.

     

Effects of 5-HT7 receptors on circadian rhythm of mice anesthetized with isoflurane

ABSTRACT

The role of the serotonin 7 receptor (5-HT₇ receptor) subtype in a number of domains has been widely recognized, but its role in the regulation of changes of the circadian rhythm after anesthesia is still unclear. We used intraperitoneal injection of 5-HT₇ receptor agonist LP-211 or antagonist SB-269970 in mice to influence the level of 5-HT₇ receptor protein in the SCN and to observe the role of this receptor on circadian rhythm changes after isoflurane anesthesia. Our results show the appropriate dose of SB-269970 significantly alleviated the circadian rhythm disorder induced by isoflurane anesthesia, while LP-211 significantly aggravated it after anesthesia, which is different from the phase shift that can be caused by the administration of LP-211 before anesthesia. These findings may indicate the 5-HT₇ receptor plays a complex role in the regulation of circadian rhythm after anesthesia. Our findings may provide some positive significance for alleviating circadian rhythm disorder in patients after anesthesia and ultimately promoting rapid postoperative recovery.     

Inhibiting roles of FOXA2 in liver cancer cell migration and invasion by transcriptionally suppressing microRNA-103a-3p and activating the GREM2/LATS2/YAP axis

Cytotechnology - Forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) has emerged as a tumor inhibitor in several human malignancies. This work focused on the effect of FOXA2 on liver cancer (LC) cell invasion and migration...     

Offspring performance and female preference of Pagiophloeus tsushimanus (coleoptera: curculionidae) on three Lauraceae tree species: A potential risk of host shift caused by larval experience

The weevil Pagiophloeus tsushimanus Morimoto (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), native to Eastern Asia, is a wood-boring pest that causes severe damage to camphor trees (Cinnamomum sp.) in Shanghai, China. Other Lauraceae tree species that grew sympatrically with this pest in close proximity could face a potential threat. To assess the potential risks of host shift, we explored the phenotypic associations between preference and performance in P. tsushimanus reared on three Lauraceae tree species. In a no-choice experiment offering branches of each plant as diet material and oviposition sites, we found that individuals reared on Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (Laurales: Lauraceae) exhibited the strongest performance with shorter development time, higher survival and growth rate in the immature stage, longer longevity and greater fecundity in adults. In contrast, those on novel Lauraceae tree species (Cinnamomum chekiangensis Nakai and Phoebe chekiangensis Shang) had difficulty completing their whole life cycle due to significantly lower survival and reproduction. In a multiple-choice experiment, C. camphora was established as the preferred host. However, we found that the larval experiences on the non-preferred host plants contributed to an increased preference for that plant species. These results indicated that both the preference-performance hypothesis and the Hopkins’ host selection principle are applicable in this weevil under experimental conditions. It is possible that although the weevil performed poorly on two novel Lauraceae tree species, under favourable conditions their surviving offspring could evolve into a new host-specific population. Consequently, this weevil pest needs to be monitored on these novel Lauraceae tree species.     

Histone H3K27 dimethylation landscapes contribute to genome stability and genetic recombination during wheat polyploidization

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an allohexaploid that was formed via two allopolyploidization events. Growing evidence suggests histone modifications are involved in the response to ‘genomic shock’ and environmental adaptation during polyploid formation and evolution. However, the role of histone modifications, especially histone H3 lysine-27 dimethylation (H3K27me2), in genome evolution remains elusive. Here we analyzed H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 profiles in hexaploid wheat and its tetraploid and diploid relatives. Although H3K27me3 levels were relatively stable among wheat species with different ploidy levels, H3K27me2 intensities increased concurrent with increased ploidy levels, and H3K27me2 peaks were colocalized with massively amplified DTC transposons (CACTA family) in euchromatin, which may silence euchromatic transposons to maintain genome stability during polyploid wheat evolution. Consistently, the distribution of H3K27me2 is mutually exclusive with another repressive histone mark, H3K9me2, that mainly silences transposons in heterochromatic regions. Remarkably, the regions with low H3K27me2 levels (named H3K27me2 valleys) were associated with the formation of DNA double-strand breaks in genomes of wheat, maize (Zea mays) and Arabidopsis. Our results provide a comprehensive view of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 distributions during wheat evolution, which support roles for H3K27me2 in silencing euchromatic transposons to maintain genome stability and in modifying genetic recombination landscapes. These genomic insights may empower breeding improvement of crops.     

闽江流域生境质量时空演变特征与预测研究

流域生境是生物生存和可持续发展的物质基础与环境保障,土地利用变化是影响生境质量的重要因素,分析土地利用与区域生境质量时空演变特征,对区域生物多样性保护与土地可持续利用具有重要意义。以闽江流域为研究区,基于2000-2015年的土地利用空间数据,构建CA-Markov模型模拟2025-2040年现有发展与生态保护情景下土地利用空间数据,利用InVEST模型分析2000-2040年生境质量空间格局。结果表明：（1）闽江流域森林覆盖率较高,现状条件下水田、旱地、针阔混交林、灌木林、草地与湿地面积呈下降趋势,其中草地减幅最大,达44.64%,针叶林、阔叶林、水域、建设用地、交通用地、采矿场与裸地面积呈上升趋势,其中交通用地涨幅最大,达到227.27%;模拟的土地利用Kappa系数达89.09%,模拟结果较好,生态保护情景在未来土地利用格局优化上优势明显。（2）研究期内闽江流域总体呈现较高的生境质量,基本维持在0.82的水平,城乡建设用地区域是生境质量低值的主要分布区,福州与长乐分布有最大的生境质量低值聚集区;生境质量分布与地形条件存在一定相关性,低值区多为海拔较低的区域。（3）2000-2015年闽江流域生境质量总体呈现衰退趋势,且降幅逐期升高,最高达0.24%;现有发展情景下降的趋势未得到有效缓解,生态保护情景下降趋势逐步有效缓解,同时生境质量为优等的栅格数量占比最大,最高达87.42%。（4）闽江流域上中游区域生境水平较下游高,现有发展情景下这种差距出现扩张趋势,生态保护情景下各区域则基本维持住2015年的生境质量水平。研究结果可为闽江流域土地资源可持续利用与生物多样性保护提供科学依据和决策参考,促进区域可持续发展。     

鄱阳湖流域不同土地覆被碳水利用效率时空变化及其与气候因子的相关性

鄱阳湖流域作为较突出的碳汇功能区,深入掌握不同土地覆被碳素利用率（CUE）和水分利用效率（WUE）的时空分异规律及其对气候因子的响应,对明确气候变化背景下该流域生态功能和碳水循环有重要意义。利用MODIS数据产品,结合流域土地利用和气象监测数据,辅以趋势分析和相关分析等方法研究了2000-2014年鄱阳湖流域不同土地利用类型CUE和WUE的时空变化特征,并探讨了其与降水、气温和日照时数的相关性。结果表明：1）鄱阳湖流域CUE和WUE多年平均值分别为0.458和0.682 gC/kgH₂O,不同土地利用类型的CUE大小依次为草地 > 水田 > 其他林地 > 旱地 > 疏林地 > 灌木林 > 有林地,WUE大小依次为有林地 > 灌木林 > 旱地 > 疏林地 > 水田 > 其他林地 > 草地;2）鄱阳湖流域CUE、WUE在研究时段内均呈微弱下降趋势,各土地利用类型CUE和WUE则表现出较大的年际波动,且年际变化趋势率具有高度的相似性,其中林地各类型下降趋势最大,其次是旱地和水田,草地最小;3）降水是影响鄱阳湖流域土地覆被碳水利用效率变化的关键因素,其他因子与CUE和WUE的相关性均不显著,不同覆被CUE和WUE对气温、降水和日照时数的响应程度存在较大差异。     

Correction to: lncRNA MEG3, Acting as a ceRNA,Modulates RPE Differentiation Through the miR-7-5p/Pax6 Axis

Biochemical Genetics - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-021-10086-3