The miRNAome of ramie (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boehmeria nivea</Emphasis> L.): identification,expression, and potential roles of novel microRNAs in regulation of cadmium stress response

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate numerous crucial abiotic stress processes in plants. However, information is limited on their involvement in cadmium (Cd) stress response and tolerance mechanisms in plants, including ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) that produces a number of economic valuable as an important natural fibre crop and an ideal crop for Cd pollution remediation.

Results

Four small RNA libraries of Cd-stressed and non-stressed leaves and roots of ramie were constructed. Using small RNA-sequencing, 73 novel miRNAs were identified. Genome-wide expression analysis revealed that a set of miRNAs was differentially regulated in response to Cd stress. In silico target prediction identified 426 potential miRNA targets that include several uptake or transport factors for heavy metal ions. The reliability of small RNA sequencing and the relationship between the expression levels of miRNAs and their target genes were confirmed by quantitative PCR (q-PCR). We showed that the expression patterns of miRNAs obtained by q-PCR were consistent with those obtained from small RNA sequencing. Moreover, we demonstrated that the expression of six randomly selected target genes was inversely related to that of their corresponding miRNAs, indicating that the miRNAs regulate Cd stress response in ramie.

Conclusions

This study enriches the number of Cd-responsive miRNAs and lays a foundation for the elucidation of the miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism in ramie during Cd stress.

     

Long non-coding RNA DANCR modulates osteogenic differentiation by regulating the miR-1301-3p/PROX1 axis

The balance of osteoblasts and marrow adipocytes from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) maintains bone health. Under aging or other pathological stimuli, BM-MSCs will preferentially differentiate into marrow adipocytes and reduce osteoblasts, leading to osteoporosis. Long non-coding RNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) participates in the osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs, but the mechanism by which DANCR regulates the osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs has not been fully explained. We observed that DANCR and prospero homeobox 1 (PROX1) were downregulated during osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs, while miR-1301-3p had an opposite trend. DANCR overexpression decreased the levels of alkaline phosphatase, RUNX2, osteocalcin, Osterix in BM-MSCs after osteogenic induction, but DANCR silencing had the opposite result. Moreover, DANCR sponged miR-1301-3p to regulate PROX1 expression. miR-1301-3p overexpression reversed the suppressive role of DANCR elevation on the osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs. Also, PROX1 elevation abolished the promoting role of miR-1301-3p overexpression on the osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs. In conclusion, DANCR suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs through the miR-1301-3p/PROX1 axis, offering a novel mechanism by which DANCR is responsible for the osteogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs.

     

鄱阳湖苦草及马来眼子菜PSⅡ荧光参数对水深变化的光响应

以典型沉水植物苦草和马来眼子菜为材料,利用水下饱和脉冲调制叶绿素荧光仪研究不同水深(0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0、2.5 m)对两种植物叶片最小荧光(Fo)、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ最大光化光效率(Fv/Fm)、有效量子产量[Y(Ⅱ)]、光化学淬灭系数(qP)、非光化学淬灭系数(qN)、非调节性能量耗散的量子产量[Y(NO)]等荧光参数的影响。结果表明:水深1.5～2.0 m处苦草生物量最大,而1.0～1.5 m处马来眼子菜的最大;两种植物的Fo均先降低后升高,而荧光参数[(Fm、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、Y(Ⅱ)、qP]均先升高后降低; 2.0m处苦草的Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo最大,1.5 m处马来眼子菜的最大;相同水深下,马来眼子菜的qN比苦草低,与qP变化趋势相反;苦草的Y(Ⅱ)最大值出现在水深1.5～2.0 m内,马来眼子菜的Y(Ⅱ)最大值出现在1.5 m处;两者的Y(NO)随水深变化均表现出显著差异,过高或过低水深均抑制植物生长;相对光合电子传递速率(ETR)在不同水深处理间均差异显著,苦草的最大ETR比马来眼子菜小,说明其有较强的耐弱光能力。综上所述,在水深1.5～2.0 m苦草光合能力最强,最适宜生长;水深1.0～1.5 m最适宜马来眼子菜生长。     

砒砂岩区不同生态修复植被根际土壤微生态环境特征

通过研究准格尔旗生态修复植被油松（Pinus tabulaeformis）人工林、柠条（Caragana korshinskii）人工林、自然恢复草地和撂荒地中土壤微生态环境特征,为砒砂岩区生态修复技术提供有效补充。本研究分析了4种植被类型土壤微生态环境中微生物群落结构及微生物生物量碳、氮和磷含量、土壤养分转化相关酶活性和土壤化学性质的变化规律,探讨了土壤微生物群落结构与土壤微生态环境间的关联性,并探明不同生态修复植被类型中土壤微生境的主要影响因素。结果表明：（1）4种植被类型中油松人工林土壤溶解性有机碳最高,为4.26 mg·kg^-1; 柠条人工林土壤有效氮最高,为11.69 mg·kg^-1;而油松人工林、柠条人工林、自然恢复草地中的土壤有效磷含量无显著差异。（2）油松人工林根际土壤养分转化相关酶活性和土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和磷均显著高于其他植被类型。（3）油松人工林的土壤真菌相对丰度最大,为31.36%;柠条人工林和撂荒地土壤革兰氏阳性菌相对丰度最大,分别为35.73%和37.27%;土壤革兰氏阴性菌的相对丰度随可利用有机碳的减少呈增加趋势,油松人工林最小（36.82%）,自然恢复草地最大（42.13%）。（4）土壤真菌相对丰度与土壤养分转化相关酶均呈正相关关系;偏好易分解碳源的革兰氏阴性菌与土壤微生态环境因子的相关性较小,而革兰氏阳性菌与土壤碳转化相关指标均显著负相关。（5）冗余分析发现,碱性磷酸酶作为解释度最大的环境因子,与真菌呈极显著正相关关系,与格兰氏阳性菌呈极显著负相关关系。综上,砒砂岩区生态修复植被类型中油松人工林微生态环境的稳定性相对较高,可以作为砒砂岩区最优生态修复树种,在根际土壤微生态环境变化中碱性磷酸酶和真菌协同作用有效调控砒砂岩区的环境修复。     

Canine cystinuria: polymorphism in the canine<Emphasis Type="Italic"> SLC3A1</Emphasis> gene and identification of a nonsense mutation in cystinuric Newfoundland dogs

Cystinuria is an inherited renal and intestinal disease characterized by defective amino acid reabsorption and cystine urolithiasis. Different forms of the disease, designated type I and non-type I in cystinuric humans, can be distinguished clinically and biochemically, and have been associated with mutations in the SLC3A1 (rBAT) and SLC7A9 genes, respectively. Type I cystinuria is the most common form and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait in humans. Cystinuria has been recognized in more than 60 breeds of dogs and a severe form, resembling type I cystinuria, has been characterized in the Newfoundland breed. Here we report the cloning and sequencing of the canine SLC3A1 cDNA and gene, and the identification of a nonsense mutation in exon 2 of the gene in cystinuric Newfoundland dogs. A mutation-specific test was developed for the diagnosis and control of cystinuria in Newfoundland dogs. In cystinuric dogs of six other breeds, either heterozygosity at the SLC3A1 locus or lack of mutations in the coding region of the SLC3A1 gene were observed, indicating that cystinuria is genetically heterogeneous in dogs, as it is in humans. The canine homologue of human type I cystinuria provides the opportunity to use a large animal model to investigate molecular approaches for the treatment of cystinuria and other renal tubular diseases.