OsPPG encodes a pseudouridine-5'-phosphate glycosidase and regulates rice spikelet development

Florets are the basic structural units of spikelets,and their morphogenesis determines the yield and quality of rice grains.However,whether and how pseudouridine-5’-phosphate glycosidase participates in rice spikelet development remains an open question.In this study,we identified a novel gene,OsPPG,which encodes a peroxisome-localized pseudouridine-5’-phosphate glycosidase and regulates the development of rice spikelets.osppg mutants exhibited abnormal sterile lemma,lemma,palea,lodicule,stamens,and pistils;male sterility;shorter panicles;and reduced plant height.OsPPG was found to regulate several OsMADS genes,thereby affecting the morphogenesis of rice spikelets.Furthermore,metabolomics revealed that the OsPPG gene was involved in the decomposition of pseudouridine via the pyrimidine metabolism pathway and may affect the jasmonic acid signaling pathway.These results suggest that OsPPG is a key regulator of rice spikelet development.

Clinical signification of high-mobility group box 1protein(HMGB1) expression in infiltrating ductalcarcinoma breast tissue

Objective: Exploring the clinical signification of high-mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1) expression in infiltrating ductal carcinoma(IDC) breast tissue. Methods: The expression of HMGB1 protein in IDC breast tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the relations among size of tumour, lymph node metastasis, clinical staging, estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor(PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2) were also analyzed. Results: Fortysix cases out of 60 cases of IDC breast tissue showed positive or strong positive HMGB1 expression(76.67%), statistical significance was observed between HMGB1 expression with clinical staging(P < 0.01), lymph node metastasis(P < 0.01), breast cancer ER(P < 0.05) and HER-2(P < 0.05), however same conclusion can not be drawn between HMGB1 with either size of tumour or PR expression(P > 0.05) in IDC breast tissue. Spearman analysis showed negative correlation between HMGB1 expression and ER, and positive correlation between HMGB1 expression and clinical staging, lymph node metastasis together with HER-2. Conclusion: It's promising that HMGB1 expression in IDC tissue can be one of biological indicators of poor prognosis.

iTRAQ-based protein profiling and functional identification of four genes involved in rice basal resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae in two contrasting rice genotypes

Rice blast,caused by Magnaporthe oryzae,is one of the most destructive rice diseases.Developing blast-resistant rice cultivars represents the most economical and environmentally friend strategy for managing the disease.In our previous study,an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation(iTRAQ)-based comparative protein quantification was carried out to investigate the resistance gene Piz-t gene-mediated resistance response to infection in two contrasting rice genotypes of the Piz-t transgenic Nipponbare line(NPB-Piz-t)and its wild-type Nipponbare(NPB).Here,from the comparisons of differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)of NPB-Piz-t to the avirulent isolate KJ201(KJ201-Piz-t)and the virulent isolate RB22(RB22-Piz-t)with mock-treated NPB-Piz-t(Mock-Piz-t),NPB to the virulent isolate KJ201(KJ201-NPB)and RB22(RB22-NPB)with mock-treated NPB(Mock-NPB),1,1,and 6 common DEPs were,respectively,identified at 24,48 and 72 h post-inoculation(hpi)in the susceptible comparisons of RB22-Pizt/Mock-Piz-t,KJ201-NPB/Mock-NPB,and RB22-NPB/Mock-NPB,involving in gi|54,290,836 and gi|59,800,021 were identified in the resistance comparison KJ201-Piz-t/Mock-Piz-t at 48 and 72 hpi respectively.Moreover,four genes of Os01g0138900(gi|54,290,836),Os04g0659300(gi|59,800,021),Os09g0315700(gi|125,563,186)or Os04g0394200(gi|21,740,743)were knocked out or overexpressed in NPB using gene over-expression and CRISPR/Cas9 technology,and results verified that the Os01g0138900 obviously affected the rice blast resistance.Further,expression and targeted metabolomics analysis illuminated the resistance response of cysteine-containing substances as gi|59,800,021 under blast infection.These results provide new targets for basal resistance gene identification and open avenues for developing novel rice blast resistant materials.

Multiscale analysis of Asian Monsoon over the past 640 ka

The empirical mode decomposition(EMD) method is used to re-analyse the high-resolution and precisely-dated stalagmite record from Chinese caves over the past 640 ka. Results show that(1) the variation in the Asian Monsoon can be completely decomposed into ten quasiperiod oscillations, among which the precession and semiprecession band oscillations are the most prominent periodicities, with contribution rates of 31.1% and 30.7%, respectively;(2) the cross-spectrum analysis of the semiprecession component and bi-hemisphere insolation(BHI) are strongly correlated, indicating an amplified response of precipitation and temperature variability to the interhemispheric insolation in the low-latitude regions, thus further affecting the intensity of the Asian Monsoon;(3) on millennial timescales, obvious oscillations at the 5 ka and 1–2 ka bands roughly correspond to the classical Bond and Dansgaard-Oeschger(DO) cycles. Additionally, a strong correlation is found between the detrended stalagmite δ18 O records and Ca/Sr sequence from the North Atlantic(especially at the 5 ka band). This result means that the 5 ka cycle is characteristic of the glacial-interglacial cycle since the middle and late Pleistocene and may imply that climate change on the millennial timescale is the result of an interaction between global ice volume and insolation.

Extraction of Cr(Ⅵ) from chromite ore processing residue via hydrothermal-assisted phase transformation

The effective extracting Cr(Ⅵ) from chromite ore processing residue(COPR) is the key to achieve COPR detoxification and recovery.We developed an effective method to extract Cr(Ⅵ) from COPR via controlling the phase transformation of Cr(Ⅵ)-containing minerals.Characteristic analysis showed that Cr(Ⅵ) was mainly incorporated in the hydrocalumite(NaCa4Al2O6(SO4/CrO4)1.5-15H2O) in COPR,which was a layered-double hydroxide(LDH) with multilayer structure.In the hydrothermal treatment experiments,the Na2CO3 solution showed significant extraction effect of Cr(Ⅵ) and detoxification effect of COPR.After treatment,95% of Cr(Ⅵ) was removed and the Cr(Ⅵ) concentration in the leachate was decreased to 1.6 mg/L by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP),within the regulatory limit disposal standard(HJ/T 301-2007,3 mg/L).Further study revealed that,during the treatment,hydrocalumite transformed into calcite(CaCO3) under the effect of mineralizer,therefore,the layered structure collapsed and the incorporated Cr(Ⅵ) was released to the supernatant.Meanwhile,the Cr(Ⅵ)desorbed from calcite with the calcite particles grew into large size with smooth surface.Stir-flow experiment revealed that the amount of chromium released from CORP to the environment was significantly reduced after treatment,and it is safer for landfill disposal.This work will provide an instructive guidance for the detoxification and recovery of COPR.

Biomimetic Alveolus-on-a-Chip for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Recapitulation

SARS-CoV-2 has caused asevere pneumoniapandemic worldwide with high morbidity and mortality.Howto developa preclinical model for recapitulating SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is stil urgent and essential for the control of the pandemic.Here,we have established a 3D biomimetic alveolus-on-a-chip with mechanical strain and extracellular matrix taken into consideration.We have validated that the alveolus-on-a-chip is capable of recapitulating key physiological characteristics of human alveolar units,which lays a fundamental basis for viral infection studies at the organ level.Using virus-analogous chemicals and pseudovirus,we have explored virus pathogenesis and blocking ability of antibodies during viral infection.This work provides a favorable platform for SARS-Cov-2-related researches and has a great potential for physiology and pathophysiology studies of the human lung at the organ level in vitro.

A post-GWAS replication study confirming the association of C14H8orf33 gene with milk production traits in dairy cattle

Genome-wide association studies with an Illumina Bovine50K chip have detected 105 SNPs associated with one or multiple milk production traits in the Chinese Holstein population.Of these,38 significant SNPs detected with high confidence by both L1-TDT and MMRA methods were selected to further mine potential key genes affecting milk yield and milk composition.By blasting the flanking sequences of these 38 SNPs with the bovine genome sequence combined with comparative genomics analysis,26 genes were found to contain or be near to such SNPs.Among them,the C14H8orf33 gene is merely 87 bp away from the significant SNP,Hapmap30383-BTC-005848.Hence,we report herein genotype-phenotype associations to further validate the genetic effects of the C14H8orf33 gene.By pooled DNA sequencing of 14 unrelated Holstein sires,a total of 18 with seven novel SNPs were identified.Among them,nine SNPs were in the 5′regulatory region,one in exon 6 and the other in the 3′UTR and 3′regulatory region.A total of nine of these identified SNPs were successfully genotyped and analyzed by mass spectrometry for association with five milk production traits in an independent resource population.The results showed that these SNPs were statistically significant for more than two traits[P<(0.0001–0.0267)].In addition,mRNA expression analyses revealed that C14H8orf33 was ubiquitous in eight different tissues,with a relatively higher expression level in the mammary gland than in other tissues.These findings,therefore,provide strong evidence for association of C14H8orf33 variants with milk yield and milk composition traits and may be applied in Chinese Holstein breeding programs.

Operating pesticide use reduction within the boundary of food security in peri-urban settings

Pesticide use in peri-urban areas afects the urban enviroment and public health,and reducing the use may present food security isues for urban dwellers.In this study,we explore how a muiallyadopted goal of a 20%reduetion in pesticide use could be achieved,along with local food security and environmental implica-tions,for Shanghai located in the densely populated East China.A regional Shanghai Agricultural Sector Model inorporating district-and technology-varying crop budgets,was developed to simulate the efects of pesticide reduction policy.Here we find that achieving the reduction goal had the largest implications in districts with high pesticide use totals and intensities,potentially reducing pesticide non point source pollution in the Yangtze River Estuary and Dianshan Lake;the production levels of rice and leafy vegetables would be most afected;and adopting machinery that allows more precise pesticide application modulates these results.Moreover,imposing the requlrements at the district-level caused more severe local food security concerns,and less environmental benefits.Furthermore,a closed Shanghai's agricultural economy would subtantally enlarge the regional het-erogeneity in the above-mentioaned outcomes.Exploring the ffects of a quantity control policy on current-use pesticides at diferent aggregation levels has important implications for regulating the use of agrochemicals.