Isolation and Functional Characterization of a B3 Transcription Factor Gene <i>FUSCA3</i>Involved in Pre-Harvest Sprouting Resistance in Wheat

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) reduces yields and grain quality, resulting in seriously economic losses in wheat. It has been showed that PHS is significantly correlated to seed dormancy levels. FUSCA3 (FUS3) gene is considered to be the key regulator of seed dormancy. However, little information is available about the function of FUS3 gene (TaFUS3) in wheat. In this study, three homologous genes were identified in wheat grain, and their functions were investigated by gene silencing. Three full-length DNA (3477, 3534 and 3501 bp) and cDNA (1015, 1012 and 1015 bp) sequences encoding a B3 transcription factor, designated TaFUS3-3A, TaFUS3-3B and TaFUS3-3D, were first isolated from common wheat. The transcription of three TaFUS3 genes in seed development and germination process was detected. TaFUS3-3B and TaFUS3-3D had similar expression profiles, and high levels of gene transcripts were detected in seeds at 25 DAP (days after pollination) and after 24 h of imbibition. However, the transcription of TaFUS3-3A was not detected. Silencing of TaFUS3 in common wheat spikes resulted in increased seed germination and PHS. Compared with wild-type, the TaFUS3-silenced plants showed increased expression of genes related to GA biosynthesis and ABA metabolism, and decreased expression of genes associated with ABA biosynthesis. Moreover, silencing of TaFUS3 in wheat plants led to a decrease in embryo sensitivity to ABA and changed the expression of genes involved in ABA signal transduction. The results of gene silencing indicated that TaFUS3 plays a positive role in wheat seed dormancy and PHS-resistance, which might be associated with ABA, GA level and signal transduction.

LncRNA DPP10-AS1 promotes malignant processes through epigenetically activating its cognate gene DPP10 and predicts poor prognosis in lung cancer patients

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore the function and gene expression regulation of the newly identified lnc RNA DPP10-AS1 in lung cancer,and its potential value as a prognostic biomarker.Methods:q RT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to detect the expression of DDP10-AS1 and DPP10 in lung cancer cell lines and tissues.The effects of DDP10-AS1 on DPP10 expression,cell growth,invasion,apoptosis,and in vivo tumor growth were investigated in lung cancer cells by Western blot,rescue experiments,colony formation,flow cytometry,and xenograft animal experiments.Results:The novel antisense lnc RNA DPP10-AS1 was found to be highly expressed in cancer tissues(P<0.0001),and its upregulation predicted poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer(P=0.0025).Notably,DPP10-AS1 promoted lung cancer cell growth,colony formation,and cell cycle progression,and repressed apoptosis in lung cancer cells by upregulating DPP10 expression.Additionally,DPP10-AS1 facilitated lung tumor growth via upregulation of DPP10 protein in a xenograft mouse model.Importantly,DPP10-AS1 positively regulated DPP10 gene expression,and both were coordinately upregulated in lung cancer tissues.Mechanically,DPP10-AS1 was found to associate with DPP10 m RNA but did not enhance DPP10 m RNA stability.Hypomethylation of DPP10-AS1 and DPP10 contributed to their coordinate upregulation in lung cancer.Conclusions:These findings indicated that the upregulation of the antisense lnc RNA DPP10-AS1 promotes lung cancer malignant processes and facilitates tumorigenesis by epigenetically regulating its cognate sense gene DPP10.DPP10-AS1 may serve as a candidate prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer.