Monkeypox virus 2022,gene heterogeneity and protein polymorphism

Dear Editor,Human monkeypox(MPX),an endemic disease in equatorial Africa,1 has been causing outbreaks in non-endemic countries since early May 2022.Interestingly,many confirmed cases have no history of travel to Africa.This is the first time many MPX cases have been reported concurrently in both non-endemic and endemic countries in disparate geographical areas.2 In response,we have analyzed 27 genes or sequences from 643 full-length human monkeypox virus(MPXV)genomes collected after January 1 and submitted by August 7,2022(Supplementary Table 1).We divided these 643 genomes into 24 clusters with a 95%identity threshold(Supplementary Table 2).

MALE STERILITY 3 encodes a plant homeodomain-finger protein for male fertility in soybean

Male-sterile plants are used in hybrid breeding to improve yield in soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.).Developing the capability to alter fertility under different environmental conditions could broaden germplasm resources and simplify hybrid production.However,molecular mechanisms potentially underlying such a system in soybean were unclear.Here,using positional cloning,we identified a gene,MALE STERILITY 3(MS3),which encodes a nuclear-localized protein containing a plant homeodomain(PHD)-finger domain.A spontaneous mutation in ms3 causing premature termination of MS3 translation and partial loss of the PHD-finger.Transgenetic analysis indicated that MS3 knockout resulted in nonfunctional pollen and no selfpollinated pods,and RNA-seq analysis revealed that MS3 affects the expression of genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism.Strikingly,the fertility of mutant ms3 can restore under longd conditions.The mutant could thus be used to create a new,more stable photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility line for two-line hybrid seed production,with significant impact on hybrid breeding and production.

The cytotoxicity and protective effects of Astragalus membranaceus extracts and butylated hydroxyanisole on hydroxyl radical-induced apoptosis in fish erythrocytes

Erythrocytes play an essential role in transporting O_2 and CO_2 for respiration in fish. However,erythrocytes continuously suffer from reactive oxygen species(ROS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Thus, it is essential to expand our knowledge of how to protect erythrocytes against ROS-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in fish. In this study, we explored the cytotoxicity and the effects of butylated hydroxyanisole(BHA), ethyl ether extracts, ethyl acetate extracts, acetone extracts(AE), ethanol extracts, and aqueous extracts of Astragalus membranaceus(EAm) on hydroxyl radical(·OH)-induced apoptosis in carp erythrocytes. The rat hepatocytes and carp erythrocytes were incubated with different concentrations of BHA or EAm(0.125 to 1 mg/mL). The toxicity in rat hepatocytes and carp erythrocytes was then measured using a 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay and a haemolysis assay,respectively. The carp erythrocytes were treated with BHA or EAm in the presence of 40 μmol/L FeSO4 and20 μmol/L H_2 O_2 at 37℃, except for the control group. Oxidative stress and apoptosis parameters in the carp erythrocytes were then evaluated using the commercial kit. The results indicated that at high concentrations, BHA and EAm could induce toxicity in rat hepatocytes and fish erythrocytes. However, BHA was more toxic than EAm at the same concentrations. Moreover, the toxicity order of BHA and EAm in the fish erythrocytes approximately agreed with that for the rat hepatocytes. Butylated hydroxyanisole and EAm suppressed the ·OH-induced phosphatidylserine exposure and DNA fragmentation(the biomarkers of apoptosis) by decreasing the generation of ROS, inhibiting the oxidation of cellular components, and restoring the activities of antioxidants in carp erythrocytes. Of all of the examined EAm, the AE showed the strongest effects. The effects of AE on superoxide anion, H_2 O_2, met-haemoglobin and reduced glutathione levels, as well as glutathione reductase activity and apoptosis were equivalent to or stronger than those of BHA. These results revealed that the AE of Astragalus membranaceus could be used as a potential natural antioxidant or apoptosis inhibitor in fish erythrocytes.