α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

The fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.     

Genomic insights into selection for heterozygous alleles and woody traits in Populus tomentosa

Heterozygous alleles are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated woody plants. The variation in heterozygosity that underlies population adaptive evolution and phenotypic variation, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of Populus tomentosa, an economic and ecologically important native tree in northern China. By resequencing 302 natural accessions, we determined that the South subpopulation (Pop_S) encompasses the ancestral strains of P. tomentosa, while the Northwest subpopulation (Pop_NW) and Northeast subpopulation (Pop_NE) experienced different selection pressures during population evolution, resulting in significant population differentiation and a decrease in the extent of heterozygosity. Analysis of heterozygous selective sweep regions (HSSR) suggested that selection for lower heterozygosity contributed to the local adaptation of P. tomentosa by dwindling gene expression and genetic load in the Pop_NW and Pop_NE subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that 88 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 63 genes are associated with nine wood composition traits. Among them, the selection for the homozygous AA allele in PtoARF8 is associated with reductions in cellulose and hemicellulose contents by attenuating PtoARF8 expression, and the increase in lignin content is attributable to the selection for decreases in exon heterozygosity in PtoLOX3 during adaptive evolution of natural populations. This study provides novel insights into allelic variations in heterozygosity associated with adaptive evolution of P. tomentosa in response to the local environment and identifies a series of key genes for wood component traits, thereby facilitating genomic-based breeding of important traits in perennial woody plants.     

Effects of ROS and caspase-3-like protein on the growth and aerenchyma formation of Potamogeton perfoliatus stem

Protoplasma - Aerenchyma formation plays an important role in the survival of Potamogeton perfoliatus in submerged environment. To understand the regulatory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)...     

Comprehensive Evaluation and Screening for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Tolerance in Rice Cultivars at Different Growth Stages

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) pollution in fields has become a potential threat to rice growth, yet little is known about the different response of many...     

Tsp2 Facilitates Tumor-associated Fibroblasts Formation and Promotes Tumor Progression in Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) is the most common subtype of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma, characterized by a high recurrence rate and insensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The function of tumor microenvironmental components, especially tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs), remains unclear in RLPS. The crosstalk between tumor cells and stromal cells should be clarified for therapy target discovery in RLPS. In this study, we demonstrated that TAFs from dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) could attract LPS cells and promote their proliferation and migration. However, although α-SMA is positively expressed in RLPS, its expression does not indicate prognosis. By screening differentially expressed genes, performing Oncomine visualization, TCGA gene expression correlation analysis and qPCR verification, we determined that thrombospondin-2 (THBS2) gene expression was related to TAFs. The expression of Tsp2 protein, which was encoded by THBS2, was correlated with α-SMA expression, and it was an independent predictive factor for disease-free survival and recurrence-free survival in patients with RLPS. In vitro, Tsp2 facilitated the transformation of bone marrow-derived fibroblasts (BMFs) to TAFs and promoted the malignant biological behaviors of LPS cells by activating the MAPK/MEK/ERK pathway. Therefore, suppression of Tsp2 is expected to be a promising treatment method for RLPS patients.     

CD36 aggravates podocyte injury by activating NLRP3 inflammasome and inhibiting autophagy in lupus nephritis

A major cause of proteinuria in lupus nephritis (LN) is podocyte injury, and determining potential therapeutic targets to prevent podocyte injury is important from a clinical perspective in the treatment of LN. CD36 is involved in podocyte injury in several glomerulopathies and was reported to be a vital candidate gene in LN. Here, we determined the role of CD36 in the podocyte injury of LN and the underlying mechanisms. We observed that CD36 and NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) were upregulated in the podocytes of lupus nephritis patients and MRL/lpr mice with renal impairment. In vitro, CD36, NLRP3 inflammasome, and autophagy were elevated accompanied with increased podocyte injury stimulated by IgG extracted from lupus nephritis patients compared that from healthy donors. Knocking out CD36 with the CRISPR/cas9 system decreased the NLRP3 inflammasome levels, increased the autophagy levels and alleviated podocyte injury. By enhancing autophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome was decreased and podocyte injury was alleviated. These results demonstrated that, in lupus nephritis, CD36 promoted podocyte injury by activating NLRP3 inflammasome and inhibiting autophagy by enhancing which could decrease NLRP3 inflammasome and alleviate podocyte injury.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Inflammasome, Lupus nephritis, Autophagy     

秸秆覆盖与施磷对西南冬小麦叶肉导度和CO2同化效率的影响

为探究西南麦区冬小麦旗叶叶肉导度(g_m)与CO₂同化对土壤速效磷缺乏的响应。试验于2020-2022年在四川仁寿试验站进行秸秆覆盖和磷素水平的二因素裂区试验,以秸秆覆盖(SM)和不覆盖(NSM)为主区;三个磷水平0(P0)kg/hm²、75(P75)kg/hm²和120(P120)kg/hm²为裂区,分析小麦旗叶光响应曲线、叶肉导度和CO₂同化对旗叶磷素水平的响应。结果表明:与NSM相比,SM下旗叶比叶重(LMA)、单位面积磷含量(PA)、单位质量磷含量(PM)和净光合速率(P_n)分别提高4.1%、16.9%、12.2%和6.9%,且随着施磷量的增加,旗叶的LMA、PA、PM和P_n呈增加趋势。秸秆覆盖与施磷显著提高旗叶最大净光合速率(P_nmax)和表观量子效率(AQY),增加旗叶的光合潜能。施磷显著提高旗叶光系统II实际光化学效率(ΦPSII),最大羧化效率(V_cmax)、核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶(Rubisco)活力、胞间CO₂浓度(C_c)、叶绿体CO₂浓度(C_c)、气孔导度(g_s)和g_m,P75和P120较P0分别提高16.8%-23.8%、27.9%-35.3%、30.9%-61.7%、1.4%-3.6%、4.8%-13.1%、9.0%-10.2%和16.0%-16.9%,P75和P120无显著差异。秸秆覆盖与施磷降低旗叶的气孔限制(L_s)和叶肉限制(L_m),生化限制(L_b)是光合速率的主要限制因子。综上所述,秸秆覆盖配施75kg/hm²磷肥可提高西南冬小麦旗叶磷素含量、光系统II实际光化学效率、叶肉导度和CO₂同化效率,降低气孔限制和叶肉限制,从而提高旗叶净光合速率。