Neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease(AD),Parkinson's disease(PD),Huntington's disease(...Neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease(AD),Parkinson's disease(PD),Huntington's disease(HD),and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Currently,there are no therapies available that can delay,stop,or reverse the pathological progression of NDs in clinical settings.As the population ages,NDs are imposing a huge burden on public health systems and affected families.Animal models are important tools for preclinical investigations to understand disease pathogenesis and test potential treatments.While numerous rodent models of NDs have been developed to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms,the limited success of translating findings from animal models to clinical practice suggests that there is still a need to bridge this translation gap.Old World nonhuman primates(NHPs),such as rhesus,cynomolgus,and vervet monkeys,are phylogenetically,physiologically,biochemically,and behaviorally most relevant to humans.This is particularly evident in the similarity of the structure and function of their central nervous systems,rendering such species uniquely valuable for neuroscience research.Recently,the development of several genetically modified NHP models of NDs has successfully recapitulated key pathologies and revealed novel mechanisms.This review focuses on the efficacy of NHPs in modeling NDs and the novel pathological insights gained,as well as the challenges associated with the generation of such models and the complexities involved in their subsequent analysis.展开更多
Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor were successfully obtained using a gene transfection method, then intravenously transplanted into rats with spinal cord injury. At 1,...Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor were successfully obtained using a gene transfection method, then intravenously transplanted into rats with spinal cord injury. At 1,3, and 5 weeks after transplantation, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurofilament-200 was upregulated in the injured spinal cord, spinal cord injury was alleviated, and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores of hindlimb motor function were significantly increased. This evidence suggested that intravenous transplantation of adenovirus- mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could play a dual role, simultaneously providing neural stem cells and neurotrophic factors.展开更多
Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and is one of the reasons for the substantial socioeconomic burden.The etiology of intervertebral disc(IVD)degeneration is complicated,and its mechanism is still not co...Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and is one of the reasons for the substantial socioeconomic burden.The etiology of intervertebral disc(IVD)degeneration is complicated,and its mechanism is still not completely understood.Factors such as aging,systemic inflammation,biochemical mediators,toxic environmental factors,physical injuries,and genetic factors are involved in the progression of its pathophysiology.Currently,no therapy for restoring degenerated IVD is available except pain management,reduced physical activities,and surgical intervention.Therefore,it is imperative to establish regenerative medicine-based approaches to heal and repair the injured disc,repopulate the cell types to retain water content,synthesize extracellular matrix,and strengthen the disc to restore normal spine flexion.Cellular therapy has gained attention for IVD management as an alternative therapeutic option.In this review,we present an overview of the anatomical and molecular structure and the surrounding pathophysiology of the IVD.Modern therapeutic approaches,including proteins and growth factors,cellular and gene therapy,and cell fate regulators are reviewed.Similarly,small molecules that modulate the fate of stem cells for their differentiation into chondrocytes and notochordal cell types are highlighted.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improves dystrophin expression in muscle cell membrane of mdx mice and plays a role in ameliorating sport injuries to the myo...BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improves dystrophin expression in muscle cell membrane of mdx mice and plays a role in ameliorating sport injuries to the myocyte. In addition, dystrophin gene plasmid injection exhibits therapeutic effect in mdx mice. However, these two methods exhibit shortcomings, such as low rate of post-transplantation expression. Therefore, the present study determined the combinatorial effects of these two methods. OBJECTIVE: To transfect and observe effects of pSL139 plasmid carrying the micro-dystrophin gene into MSCs, as well as in vitro micro-dystrophin gene expression in transfected MSCs. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A comparative, molecular biology study was performed at the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, West China Medical Center, Sichuan University from March 2007 to February 2008. MATERIALS: The pSL139 plasmid was cloned and provided by the Department of Neurology, Washington University, USA. Lipofectamine 2000 was purchased from Invitrogen, USA. Mouse anti-human dystrophin N-based terminal monoclonal antibody was purchased from Chemicon, USA. METHODS: Differential velocity adherent technique and density gradient centrifugation were combined to separate and culture MSCs from C57/BL10 mice. The cells were induced to trans-differentiate into osteoblasts. Subsequently, the Lipofectamine 2000 method was used to mediate transfection of plasmid pSL139 into third generation MSCs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction and immunofluorescence were respectively employed to detect micro-dystrophin mRNA and protein expressions in MSCs. RESULTS: At 48 hours after MSC transfection with plasmid pSL139, a 379-kb target band was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Immunofluorescence revealed micro-dystrophin expression up to 45%-55%. CONCLUSION: Micro-dystrophin mRNA and protein were highly expressed in pSL139-transfected MSCs, which provided a method for efficient expression of dystrophin.展开更多
Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder that occurs in 1:5000 live births. It is characterised by an absence of enteric neurons along a variable region of the gastrointestinal tract. Hirschsprung's dis...Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder that occurs in 1:5000 live births. It is characterised by an absence of enteric neurons along a variable region of the gastrointestinal tract. Hirschsprung's disease is classified as a multigenic disorder, because the same phenotype is associated with mutations in multiple distinct genes. Furthermore, the genetics of Hirschsprung's disease are highly complex and not strictly Mendelian. The phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance observed in Hirschsprung' s disease also suggests the involvement of modifier genes. Here, we summarise the current knowledge of the genetics underlying Hirschsprung's disease based on human and animal studies, focusing on the principal causative genes, their interactions, and the role of modif ier genes.展开更多
Chronic wounds are characterized by prolonged healing processes and poor prognoses,which have substantially impacted human health and daily life.Traditional treatment strategies have various limitations and drawbacks....Chronic wounds are characterized by prolonged healing processes and poor prognoses,which have substantially impacted human health and daily life.Traditional treatment strategies have various limitations and drawbacks.Therefore,fully effective therapeutic approaches remain urgently needed.Stem cell(SC)-based therapies have drawn significant attention for their abilities of immunomodulation and pro-regeneration.It has been demon-strated that stem cells(SCs)can improve angiogenesis,collagen deposition,and hair rejuvenation,thus facilitating wound healing.In addition,attempts were performed to facilitate the cell survival,function,retention,and en-graftment of the delivered SCs.In this review,we first introduce the pathological process involved in chronic wound healing.Following that,the mechanism of SCs in promoting chronic wound repair is discussed in detail.Then,we highlight recent SC-based therapies for chronic wound repair developments.Finally,we present our views on the remaining challenges and future trends of SC-based therapies for chronic wound treatment.展开更多
Objective:Large segmental bone defect repair remains a clinical and scientific challenge with increasing interest focusing on combining gene transfection with tissue engineering techniques.The aim of this study is to ...Objective:Large segmental bone defect repair remains a clinical and scientific challenge with increasing interest focusing on combining gene transfection with tissue engineering techniques.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs).Methods:A CTGF-expressing plasmid(pCTGF) was constructed and transfected into MSCs.Then expressions of bone morphogenesis-related genes,proliferation rate,alkaline phosphatase activity,and mineralization were examined to evaluate the osteogenic potential of the CTGF gene-modified MSCs.Results:Overexpression of CTGF was confirmed in pCTGF-MSCs.pCTGF transfection significantly enhanced the proliferation rates of pCTGF-MSCs(P<0.05).CTGF induced a 7.5-fold increase in cell migration over control(P<0.05).pCTGF transfection enhanced the expression of bone matrix proteins,such as bone sialo-protein,osteocalcin,and collagen type I in MSCs.The levels of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities of pCTGF-MSCs at the 1st and 2nd weeks were 4.0-and 3.0-fold higher than those of MSCs cultured in OS-medium,significantly higher than those of mock-MSCs and normal control MSCs(P<0.05).Overexpression of CTGF in MSCs enhanced the capability to form mineralized nodules.Conclusion:Overexpression of CTGF could improve the osteogenic differentiation ability of MSCs,and the CTGF gene-modified MSCs are potential as novel cell resources of bone tissue engineering.展开更多
The CRISPR/Cas(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPRassociated proteins) system was first identified in bacteria and archaea and can degrade exogenous substrates. It was developed as a gene ...The CRISPR/Cas(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPRassociated proteins) system was first identified in bacteria and archaea and can degrade exogenous substrates. It was developed as a gene editing technology in 2013. Over the subsequent years, it has received extensive attention owing to its easy manipulation, high efficiency, and wide application in gene mutation and transcriptional regulation in mammals and plants. The process of CRISPR/Cas is optimized constantly and its application has also expanded dramatically. Therefore, CRISPR/Cas is considered a revolutionary technology in plant biology. Here, we introduce the mechanism of the type II CRISPR/Cas called CRISPR/Cas9, update its recent advances in various applications in plants, and discuss its future prospects to provide an argument for its use in the study of medicinal plants.展开更多
Precise genome modification with engineered nucleases is a powerful tool for studying basic biology and applied biotechnology. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs),consisting of an engineered spec...Precise genome modification with engineered nucleases is a powerful tool for studying basic biology and applied biotechnology. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs),consisting of an engineered specific(TALE) DNA binding domain and a Fok I cleavage domain,are newly developed versatile reagents for genome engineering in different organisms.Because of the simplicity of the DNA recognition code and their modular assembly,TALENs can act as customizable molecular DNA scissors inducing double-strand breaks(DSBs) at given genomic location.Thus,they provide a valuable approach to targeted genome modifications such as mutations, insertions,replacements or chromosome rearrangements.In this article,we review the development of TALENs,and summarize the principles and tools for TALEN-mediated gene targeting in plant cells,as well as current and potential strategies for use in plant research and crop improvement.展开更多
T cell mediated adoptive immune response has been characterized as the key to anti-tumor immunity. Scientists around the world including in China, have been trying to harness the power of T cells against tumors for de...T cell mediated adoptive immune response has been characterized as the key to anti-tumor immunity. Scientists around the world including in China, have been trying to harness the power of T cells against tumors for decades. Recently, the biosynthetic chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cell(CAR-T) strategy was developed and exhibited encouraging clinical efficacy, especially in hematological malignancies. Chimeric antigen receptor research reports began in 2009 in China according to our Pub Med search results. Clinical trials have been ongoing in China since 2013 according to the trial registrations on clinicaltrials.gov.. After years of assiduous efforts, research and clinical scientists in China have made their own achievements in the CAR-T therapy field. In this review, we aim to highlight CAR-T research and clinical trials in China, to provide an informative reference for colleagues in the field.展开更多
Post-transcriptional modifications,including histone modifications and DNA methylation,alter the chromatin landscape to regulate gene expression,thus control various cellular processes in plants.EARLY FLOWERING IN SHO...Post-transcriptional modifications,including histone modifications and DNA methylation,alter the chromatin landscape to regulate gene expression,thus control various cellular processes in plants.EARLY FLOWERING IN SHORT DAYS(EFS)is the major contributor for H3K36 methylation in Arabidopsis and is important for plant development.Here,we find that EFS is expressed in different stages of embryo morphogenesis,and the efs mutant produces larger embryo that results in enlarged seeds.Further analysis reveals that an imprinted gene MOP9.5 is hypomethylated at the promoter region and its expression is derepressed in efs mutant.MOP9.5 promoter is marked by various epigenetic modifications,and we find that following the increase of H3K36me3,H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 levels are reduced in efs mutant.This data indicates an antagonistic regulation between H3K36me3 and DNA methylation,and/or H3K27me3 at MOP9.5.Our results further show that both maternal and paternal EFS alleles are responsible for the seed size regulation,which unraveled a novel function of EFS in plant development.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF0702201)National Natural Science Foundation of China (81873736,31872779,81830032)+2 种基金Guangzhou Key Research Program on Brain Science (202007030008)Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province (2021ZT09Y007,2020B121201006,2018B030337001,2021A1515012526)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2021A1515012526,2022A1515012651)。
文摘Neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease(AD),Parkinson's disease(PD),Huntington's disease(HD),and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Currently,there are no therapies available that can delay,stop,or reverse the pathological progression of NDs in clinical settings.As the population ages,NDs are imposing a huge burden on public health systems and affected families.Animal models are important tools for preclinical investigations to understand disease pathogenesis and test potential treatments.While numerous rodent models of NDs have been developed to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms,the limited success of translating findings from animal models to clinical practice suggests that there is still a need to bridge this translation gap.Old World nonhuman primates(NHPs),such as rhesus,cynomolgus,and vervet monkeys,are phylogenetically,physiologically,biochemically,and behaviorally most relevant to humans.This is particularly evident in the similarity of the structure and function of their central nervous systems,rendering such species uniquely valuable for neuroscience research.Recently,the development of several genetically modified NHP models of NDs has successfully recapitulated key pathologies and revealed novel mechanisms.This review focuses on the efficacy of NHPs in modeling NDs and the novel pathological insights gained,as well as the challenges associated with the generation of such models and the complexities involved in their subsequent analysis.
基金Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China, No. 20060392003
文摘Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor were successfully obtained using a gene transfection method, then intravenously transplanted into rats with spinal cord injury. At 1,3, and 5 weeks after transplantation, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurofilament-200 was upregulated in the injured spinal cord, spinal cord injury was alleviated, and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores of hindlimb motor function were significantly increased. This evidence suggested that intravenous transplantation of adenovirus- mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could play a dual role, simultaneously providing neural stem cells and neurotrophic factors.
文摘Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and is one of the reasons for the substantial socioeconomic burden.The etiology of intervertebral disc(IVD)degeneration is complicated,and its mechanism is still not completely understood.Factors such as aging,systemic inflammation,biochemical mediators,toxic environmental factors,physical injuries,and genetic factors are involved in the progression of its pathophysiology.Currently,no therapy for restoring degenerated IVD is available except pain management,reduced physical activities,and surgical intervention.Therefore,it is imperative to establish regenerative medicine-based approaches to heal and repair the injured disc,repopulate the cell types to retain water content,synthesize extracellular matrix,and strengthen the disc to restore normal spine flexion.Cellular therapy has gained attention for IVD management as an alternative therapeutic option.In this review,we present an overview of the anatomical and molecular structure and the surrounding pathophysiology of the IVD.Modern therapeutic approaches,including proteins and growth factors,cellular and gene therapy,and cell fate regulators are reviewed.Similarly,small molecules that modulate the fate of stem cells for their differentiation into chondrocytes and notochordal cell types are highlighted.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scholars, No. 0040205401040
文摘BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improves dystrophin expression in muscle cell membrane of mdx mice and plays a role in ameliorating sport injuries to the myocyte. In addition, dystrophin gene plasmid injection exhibits therapeutic effect in mdx mice. However, these two methods exhibit shortcomings, such as low rate of post-transplantation expression. Therefore, the present study determined the combinatorial effects of these two methods. OBJECTIVE: To transfect and observe effects of pSL139 plasmid carrying the micro-dystrophin gene into MSCs, as well as in vitro micro-dystrophin gene expression in transfected MSCs. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A comparative, molecular biology study was performed at the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, West China Medical Center, Sichuan University from March 2007 to February 2008. MATERIALS: The pSL139 plasmid was cloned and provided by the Department of Neurology, Washington University, USA. Lipofectamine 2000 was purchased from Invitrogen, USA. Mouse anti-human dystrophin N-based terminal monoclonal antibody was purchased from Chemicon, USA. METHODS: Differential velocity adherent technique and density gradient centrifugation were combined to separate and culture MSCs from C57/BL10 mice. The cells were induced to trans-differentiate into osteoblasts. Subsequently, the Lipofectamine 2000 method was used to mediate transfection of plasmid pSL139 into third generation MSCs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction and immunofluorescence were respectively employed to detect micro-dystrophin mRNA and protein expressions in MSCs. RESULTS: At 48 hours after MSC transfection with plasmid pSL139, a 379-kb target band was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Immunofluorescence revealed micro-dystrophin expression up to 45%-55%. CONCLUSION: Micro-dystrophin mRNA and protein were highly expressed in pSL139-transfected MSCs, which provided a method for efficient expression of dystrophin.
基金Supported by The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia to Anderson RB: Project grant, No. 509219a CDA Fellowship, No. 454773
文摘Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder that occurs in 1:5000 live births. It is characterised by an absence of enteric neurons along a variable region of the gastrointestinal tract. Hirschsprung's disease is classified as a multigenic disorder, because the same phenotype is associated with mutations in multiple distinct genes. Furthermore, the genetics of Hirschsprung's disease are highly complex and not strictly Mendelian. The phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance observed in Hirschsprung' s disease also suggests the involvement of modifier genes. Here, we summarise the current knowledge of the genetics underlying Hirschsprung's disease based on human and animal studies, focusing on the principal causative genes, their interactions, and the role of modif ier genes.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81974288)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.82101184)+1 种基金Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program (No.JCYJ20210324102809024)Shenzhen PhD Start-up Program (No.RCBS20210609103713045).
文摘Chronic wounds are characterized by prolonged healing processes and poor prognoses,which have substantially impacted human health and daily life.Traditional treatment strategies have various limitations and drawbacks.Therefore,fully effective therapeutic approaches remain urgently needed.Stem cell(SC)-based therapies have drawn significant attention for their abilities of immunomodulation and pro-regeneration.It has been demon-strated that stem cells(SCs)can improve angiogenesis,collagen deposition,and hair rejuvenation,thus facilitating wound healing.In addition,attempts were performed to facilitate the cell survival,function,retention,and en-graftment of the delivered SCs.In this review,we first introduce the pathological process involved in chronic wound healing.Following that,the mechanism of SCs in promoting chronic wound repair is discussed in detail.Then,we highlight recent SC-based therapies for chronic wound repair developments.Finally,we present our views on the remaining challenges and future trends of SC-based therapies for chronic wound treatment.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program (973) of China(No.2005CB623900)
文摘Objective:Large segmental bone defect repair remains a clinical and scientific challenge with increasing interest focusing on combining gene transfection with tissue engineering techniques.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs).Methods:A CTGF-expressing plasmid(pCTGF) was constructed and transfected into MSCs.Then expressions of bone morphogenesis-related genes,proliferation rate,alkaline phosphatase activity,and mineralization were examined to evaluate the osteogenic potential of the CTGF gene-modified MSCs.Results:Overexpression of CTGF was confirmed in pCTGF-MSCs.pCTGF transfection significantly enhanced the proliferation rates of pCTGF-MSCs(P<0.05).CTGF induced a 7.5-fold increase in cell migration over control(P<0.05).pCTGF transfection enhanced the expression of bone matrix proteins,such as bone sialo-protein,osteocalcin,and collagen type I in MSCs.The levels of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities of pCTGF-MSCs at the 1st and 2nd weeks were 4.0-and 3.0-fold higher than those of MSCs cultured in OS-medium,significantly higher than those of mock-MSCs and normal control MSCs(P<0.05).Overexpression of CTGF in MSCs enhanced the capability to form mineralized nodules.Conclusion:Overexpression of CTGF could improve the osteogenic differentiation ability of MSCs,and the CTGF gene-modified MSCs are potential as novel cell resources of bone tissue engineering.
文摘The CRISPR/Cas(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPRassociated proteins) system was first identified in bacteria and archaea and can degrade exogenous substrates. It was developed as a gene editing technology in 2013. Over the subsequent years, it has received extensive attention owing to its easy manipulation, high efficiency, and wide application in gene mutation and transcriptional regulation in mammals and plants. The process of CRISPR/Cas is optimized constantly and its application has also expanded dramatically. Therefore, CRISPR/Cas is considered a revolutionary technology in plant biology. Here, we introduce the mechanism of the type II CRISPR/Cas called CRISPR/Cas9, update its recent advances in various applications in plants, and discuss its future prospects to provide an argument for its use in the study of medicinal plants.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.201263,383601 and 31200273)
文摘Precise genome modification with engineered nucleases is a powerful tool for studying basic biology and applied biotechnology. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs),consisting of an engineered specific(TALE) DNA binding domain and a Fok I cleavage domain,are newly developed versatile reagents for genome engineering in different organisms.Because of the simplicity of the DNA recognition code and their modular assembly,TALENs can act as customizable molecular DNA scissors inducing double-strand breaks(DSBs) at given genomic location.Thus,they provide a valuable approach to targeted genome modifications such as mutations, insertions,replacements or chromosome rearrangements.In this article,we review the development of TALENs,and summarize the principles and tools for TALEN-mediated gene targeting in plant cells,as well as current and potential strategies for use in plant research and crop improvement.
基金supported by Science and Technology Planning Project of Beijing City (Z151100003915076 to Weidong Han)National Natural Science Foundation of China (31270820, 81230061 to Weidong Han, 81502679 to Can Luo)
文摘T cell mediated adoptive immune response has been characterized as the key to anti-tumor immunity. Scientists around the world including in China, have been trying to harness the power of T cells against tumors for decades. Recently, the biosynthetic chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cell(CAR-T) strategy was developed and exhibited encouraging clinical efficacy, especially in hematological malignancies. Chimeric antigen receptor research reports began in 2009 in China according to our Pub Med search results. Clinical trials have been ongoing in China since 2013 according to the trial registrations on clinicaltrials.gov.. After years of assiduous efforts, research and clinical scientists in China have made their own achievements in the CAR-T therapy field. In this review, we aim to highlight CAR-T research and clinical trials in China, to provide an informative reference for colleagues in the field.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program (2016YFA0500800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571322)+2 种基金Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences1000 Young Talent Program of ChinaS.Shafiq and Wei Xu are supported by the postdoctoral fellowships from Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences
文摘Post-transcriptional modifications,including histone modifications and DNA methylation,alter the chromatin landscape to regulate gene expression,thus control various cellular processes in plants.EARLY FLOWERING IN SHORT DAYS(EFS)is the major contributor for H3K36 methylation in Arabidopsis and is important for plant development.Here,we find that EFS is expressed in different stages of embryo morphogenesis,and the efs mutant produces larger embryo that results in enlarged seeds.Further analysis reveals that an imprinted gene MOP9.5 is hypomethylated at the promoter region and its expression is derepressed in efs mutant.MOP9.5 promoter is marked by various epigenetic modifications,and we find that following the increase of H3K36me3,H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 levels are reduced in efs mutant.This data indicates an antagonistic regulation between H3K36me3 and DNA methylation,and/or H3K27me3 at MOP9.5.Our results further show that both maternal and paternal EFS alleles are responsible for the seed size regulation,which unraveled a novel function of EFS in plant development.