Reduced grain chalkiness and its possible physiological mechanism in transgenic rice overexpressing L-GalLDH

Chalkiness is one of the key factors determining rice quality and price. Ascorbic acid(Asc) is a major plant antioxidant that performs many functions in plants. L-Galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase(L-Gal LDH, EC1.3.2.3) is an enzyme that catalyzes the final step of Asc biosynthesis in plants. Here we show that the L-Gal LDH-overexpressing transgenic rice, GO-2,which has constitutively higher leaf Asc content than wild-type(WT) plants, exhibits significantly reduced grain chalkiness. Higher foliar ascorbate/dehydroascorbate(Asc/DHA)ratios at 40, 60, 80, and 100 days of plant age were observed in GO-2. Further investigation showed that the enhanced level of Asc resulted in a significantly higher ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate(Ru BP) carboxylase/oxygenase(Rubisco) protein level in GO-2 at 80 days. In addition, levels of abscisic acid(ABA) and jasmonic acid(JA) were lower in GO-2 at 60, 80, and100 days. The results we present here indicate that the enhanced level of Asc is likely responsible for changing redox homeostasis in key developmental stages associated with grain filling and alters grain chalkiness in the L-Gal LDH-overexpressing transgenic by maintaining photosynthetic function and affecting phytohormones associated with grain filling.

茄科作物青枯菌NADH脱氢酶F亚基在细胞运动和致病性中的功能研究（英文）

【目的】劳尔氏菌(Ralstonia solanacearum)在茄科作物上引起严重的细菌性青枯病,本研究旨在发掘青枯劳尔氏菌与致病相关的基因。【方法】利用Tn5转座子构建随机插入突变体,分析生物膜形成、细胞运动和致病性;对有表型变化的突变体,运用TAIL-PCR方法鉴定Tn5插入位点,确定所突变的基因。【结果】以模式菌株GMI000为出发菌,总共获得了400个突变体,其中2个突变体不能形成生物膜,在软琼脂平板上的运动能力下降;接种感病番茄植物,这2个突变体都不能引起萎焉症状。TAIL-PCR结果显示,2个突变体的Tn5插入位点都在NADH脱氢酶F亚基(nuoF)中,距离翻译起始位点分别为103-bp和225-bp。ripAY基因启动子推动的nuoF基因互补载体,完全恢复了2个突变体的表型。【结论】NADH脱氢酶复合物是微生物呼吸电子传递链中的第一步催化酶。我们的结果表明,NADH脱氢酶复合物对R. solanacearum生物膜形成、细胞运动和致病性也有重要作用。

The alteration in the architecture of a T-DNA insertion rice mutant osmtd1 is caused by up-regulation of Micro RNA156f

Plant architecture is an important factor for crop production. Some members of microRNA156 (miR156) and their target genes SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) were identified to play essential roles in the establishment of plant architecture. However, the roles and regulation of miR156 is not well understood yet. Here, we identified a T-DNA insertion mutant Osmtd1 (Oryza sativa multi-tillering and dwarf mutant). Osmtd1 produced more tillers and displayed short stature phenotype. We determined that the dramatic morphological changes were caused by a single T-DNA insertion in Osmtd1. Further analysis revealed that the T-DNA insertion was located in the gene Os08g34258 encoding a putative inhibitor I family protein. Os08g34258 was knocked out and OsmiR156f was significantly upregulated in Osmtd1. Overexpression of Os08g34258 in Osmtd1 complemented the defects of the mutant architecture, while overexpression of OsmiR156f in wild-type rice phenocopied Osmtd1. We showed that the expression of OsSPL3, OsSPL12, and OsSPL14 were significantly downregulated in Osmtd1 or OsmiR156f overexpressed lines, indicating that OsSPL3, OsSPL12, and OsSPL14 were possibly direct target genes of OsmiR156f. Our results suggested that OsmiR156f controlled plant architecture by mediating plant stature and tiller outgrowth and may be regulated by an unknown protease inhibitor I family protein.

Endovascular stent-induced alterations in host artery mechanical environments and their roles in stent restenosis and late thrombosis

Cardiovascular stent restenosis remains a major challenge in interventional treatment of cardiovascular occlusive disease.Although the changes in arterial mechanical environment due to stent implantation are the main causes of the initiation of restenosis and thrombosis,the mechanisms that cause this initiation are still not fully understood.In this article,we reviewed the studies on the issue of stent-induced alterations in arterial mechanical environment and discussed their roles in stent restenosis and late thrombosis from three aspects:(i)the interaction of the stent with host blood vessel,involve the response of vascular wall,the mechanism of mechanical signal transmission,the process of re-endothelialization and late thrombosis;(ii)the changes of hemodynamics in the lumen of the vascular segment and(iii)the changes of mechanical microenvironment within the vascular segment wall due to stent implantation.This review has summarized and analyzed current work in order to better solve the two main problems after stent implantation,namely in stent restenosis and late thrombosis,meanwhile propose the deficiencies of current work for future reference.

Investigation of novel zir-conium based perovskite-type mixed conducting membranes for oxygen separation

A series of BaZr0.2Co0.8-χFeχO3-σ materials for oxygen separation were synthesized through a citric and EDTA acid combined complexing method, and their crystal structures, oxygen permeabilities, sintering and sealing abilities were investigated. The results showed that the cubic perovskite structure was formed for materials in the composition range investigated. Oxygen permeation flux and stability, as well as sintering and sealing abilities of the synthesized materials were increased or improved apparently due to the introduction of zirconium. For example, the oxygen permeation flux reached 0.8 mL/min · cm2 when χ = 0.2 or 0.3 at 950℃, and a stable time-related oxygen permeation flux was found for the BaZr0.2Co0.3Fe0.5O3-σ membrane at 800℃.