Screening biomarkers for spinal cord injury using weighted gene co-expression network analysis and machine learning

Immune changes and inflammatory responses have been identified as central events in the pathological process of spinal co rd injury.They can greatly affect nerve regeneration and functional recovery.However,there is still limited understanding of the peripheral immune inflammato ry response in spinal cord inju ry.In this study.we obtained microRNA expression profiles from the peripheral blood of patients with spinal co rd injury using high-throughput sequencing.We also obtained the mRNA expression profile of spinal cord injury patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database(GSE151371).We identified 54 differentially expressed microRNAs and 1656 diffe rentially expressed genes using bioinformatics approaches.Functional enrichment analysis revealed that various common immune and inflammation-related signaling pathways,such as neutrophil extracellular trap formation pathway,T cell receptor signaling pathway,and nuclear factor-κB signal pathway,we re abnormally activated or inhibited in spinal cord inju ry patient samples.We applied an integrated strategy that combines weighted gene co-expression network analysis,LASSO logistic regression,and SVM-RFE algorithm and identified three biomarke rs associated with spinal cord injury:ANO10,BST1,and ZFP36L2.We verified the expression levels and diagnostic perfo rmance of these three genes in the original training dataset and clinical samples through the receiver operating characteristic curve.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that ANO20 and BST1 mRNA levels were increased and ZFP36L2 mRNA was decreased in the peripheral blood of spinal cord injury patients.We also constructed a small RNA-mRNA interaction network using Cytoscape.Additionally,we evaluated the proportion of 22 types of immune cells in the peripheral blood of spinal co rd injury patients using the CIBERSORT tool.The proportions of naive B cells,plasma cells,monocytes,and neutrophils were increased while the proportions of memory B cells,CD8^(+)T cells,resting natural killer cells,resting dendritic cells,and eosinophils were markedly decreased in spinal cord injury patients increased compared with healthy subjects,and ANO10,BST1 and ZFP26L2we re closely related to the proportion of certain immune cell types.The findings from this study provide new directions for the development of treatment strategies related to immune inflammation in spinal co rd inju ry and suggest that ANO10,BST2,and ZFP36L2 are potential biomarkers for spinal cord injury.The study was registe red in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration No.ChiCTR2200066985,December 12,2022).

Gene Cloning and Bioinformatics Analysis of phoR Gene from Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901

PhoR is a histidine kinase in a two-component regulatory system that regulates phosphorus metabolic pathways and undertakes the key mission of information transmission in pathogenic bacteria.The full-length phoR gene was successfully cloned from the Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901 strain.A comprehensive analysis of the cloned gene was conducted using bioinformatics.Sequence analysis revealed that the total length of the phoR gene(GenBank accession No.:KJ958404.1)is 1299 bp,with the coding region containing a total of 432 amino acid residues.The phylogenetic tree of PhoR revealed that it belongs to the same subclade as V.diabolicus.The SMART program was employed for the purpose of functional domain prediction,which revealed that PhoR possesses three major functional domains:PAS(amino acids 98-166),HisKA(amino acids 205-272),and HATPase_c(amino acids 317-429).

Cloning and Bioinformatics Analysis of hcp Gene in Aeromonas hydrophila

[Objectives]To explore the function of hcp gene in Aeromonas hydrophila.[Methods]A pair of specific primers was designed referring to the hcp gene sequence of A.hydrophila.The hcp gene was amplified by PCR,and performed bioinformatics analysis.[Results]The hcp gene had a total length of 1650 bp and encoded 549 amino acids.The theoretical molecular weight of the protein predicted was about 59476.44 kDa.After predicting the N-terminal signal peptide structure of the amino acid sequence,neither obvious signal peptide cleavage site nor signal peptide was found,and the protein had no transmembrane region.The amino acid sequence had a N-glycosylation site,4 protein kinase C phosphorylation sites,7 casein kinase II phosphorylation sites,9 N-myristoylation sites,4 isoprene binding sites,10 microbody C-terminal target signal sites,and an ATP/GTP binding site motif A(P-ring).The amino acid sequence of hcp gene of A.hydrophila was performed homology analysis with other Aeromonas strains,and it showed higher homology with A.veronii.In the secondary structure,theα-helix,β-sheet,random coil and extended strand accounted for 45.36%,6.01%,37.52%and 11.11%,respectively.The tertiary structure model consisted of 18α-helix and 22β-sheet.Analysis of protein-protein network interaction demonstrated that the proteins interacting with Hcp protein were AHA_3407,nrfA,nirB-1,nirB-2 and AHA_1112.[Conclusions]Through the bioinformatics prediction results,the basic information of hcp gene of A.hydrophila is preliminarily understood,and the possible function of this protein is predicted,in order to provide guidance for subsequent vaccine research.

Comprehensive analysis of gene mutations and mismatch repair in Chinese colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND RAS,BRAF,and mismatch repair(MMR)/microsatellite instability(MSI)are crucial biomarkers recommended by clinical practice guidelines for colorectal cancer(CRC).However,their characteristics and influencing factors in Chinese patients have not been thoroughly described.AIM To analyze the clinicopathological features of KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations and the DNA MMR status in CRC.METHODS We enrolled 2271 Chinese CRC patients at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.MMR proteins were tested using immunohistochemical analysis,and the KRAS/NRAS/BRAF/PIK3CA mutations were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Microsatellite status was determined using an MSI detection kit.Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software and logistic regression.RESULTS The KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations were detected in 44.6%,3.4%,3.7%,and 3.9% of CRC patients,respectively.KRAS mutations were more likely to occur in patients with moderate-to-high differentiation.BRAF mutations were more likely to occur in patients with right-sided CRC,poorly differentiated,or no perineural invasion.Deficient MMR(dMMR)was detected in 7.9% of all patients and 16.8% of those with mucinous adenocarcinomas.KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations were detected in 29.6%,1.1%,8.1%,and 22.3% of patients with dMMR,respectively.The dMMR was more likely to occur in patients with a family history of CRC,aged<50 years,right-sided CRC,poorly differentiated histology,no perineural invasion,and with carcinoma in situ,stage I,or stage II tumors.CONCLUSION This study analyzed the molecular profiles of KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA,and MMR/MSI in CRC,identifying key influencing factors,with implications for clinical management of CRC.

Molecular Cloning and Bioinformatics Analysis of sucC Gene of Vibrio alginolyticus Strain HY9901

[Objectives]To clone the sucC gene of Vibrio alginolyticus strain HY9901 and conduct the bioinformatics analysis.[Methods]Based on the sucC gene of V.alginolyticus strain HY9901,specific primers were designed to amplify the full length sequence by PCR and make further analysis.[Results]The theoretical molecular weight of SucC protein was about 41528.45 Da,and the full length was 1167 bp,encoding 388 amino acids.It has no signal peptide and transmembrane region,and has a variety of functional sites.It is predicted that it is mainly located in the cytoplasm,and the ubiquitin and lactate modification sites overlap,and it has high gene homology with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.Theα-helix,random coil and extended strand are the main secondary structures.The similarity between the constructed three-level structure model and the template is high.[Conclusions]This study reveals the structural characteristics and functional potential of SucC protein,and provides a theoretical basis for the study of drug resistance mechanism and prevention strategies.

Molecular Cloning of clpX Gene from Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901 and Its Bioinformatics Analysis

According to the clpX gene sequence of Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901,a pair of specific primers were designed,and the full length was cloned by PCR and subjected to bioinformatics analysis.The results showed that the clpX gene was 1281 bp in length and encoded 426 amino acids.Its molecular structure formula was C 3842 H 6405 N 1281 O 1598 S 260,with a theoretical protein molecular weight of approximately 1044473.4 kDa and a theoretical pI value of 5.04.The clpX gene was predominantly situated within the cytoplasm,exhibiting unstable and hydrophilic protein characteristics.It possessed a signal peptide cleavage site,lacked a transmembrane region,and was not associated with any KEGG metabolic pathway.Additionally,it possessed 2 glycine phosphorylation sites,a CAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site,a C-terminal amidation modification site,6 protein kinase C phosphorylation sites,7 microbody C-terminal target signal sites,and an ATP/GTP site.The clpX phylogenetic tree was constructed using the MEGA 5.0 software via the neighbor-joining method.The results demonstrated that the clpX of V.alginolyticus exhibited up to 100%affinity with the clpX of Vibrio spp.The single subunit 3D structure model of the ClpX protein was obtained using the SWISS-MODEL program.A structural and functional analysis of the protein revealed the presence of three distinct ClpX structural and functional domains.In the prediction of secondary structure,the proportions ofα-helix,random coil,β-sheet and extended strand were 40.38%,37.09%,5.40%and 17.14%,respectively.The analysis of the ClpX protein through the STRING database revealed that the proteins interacting with the ClpX protein were Tig,Atpd,Hflb,Msrb-2,Rpod,Clpp,Clpa,Lon-1,Hfq,and ANP63951.1.A computational analysis of the ClpX protein identified a number of post-translational modification sites,including phosphorylation,acetylation,ubiquitination,glycosylation,methylation,S-palmitoylation,and lactylation.The significance of this study is to analyze the function of the clpX gene and establish a robust foundation for subsequent investigations into the mechanism of the clpX gene in Vibrio alginolyticus.

Transglutaminase 2 serves as a pathogenic hub gene of KRAS mutant colon cancer based on integrated analysis

BACKGROUND Colon cancer is acknowledged as one of the most common malignancies worldwide,ranking third in United States regarding incidence and mortality.Notably,approximately 40%of colon cancer cases harbor oncogenic KRAS mutations,resulting in the continuous activation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling.AIM To investigate the key pathogenic genes in KRAS mutant colon cancer holds considerable importance.METHODS Weighted gene co-expression network analysis,in combination with additional bioinformatics analysis,were conducted to screen the key factors driving the progression of KRAS mutant colon cancer.Meanwhile,various in vitro experiments were also conducted to explore the biological function of transglutaminase 2(TGM2).RESULTS Integrated analysis demonstrated that TGM2 acted as an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival.Immunohistochemical analysis on tissue microarrays revealed that TGM2 was associated with an elevated probability of perineural invasion in patients with KRAS mutant colon cancer.Additionally,biological roles of the key gene TGM2 was also assessed,suggesting that the downregulation of TGM2 attenuated the proliferation,invasion,and migration of the KRAS mutant colon cancer cell line.CONCLUSION This study underscores the potential significance of TGM2 in the progression of KRAS mutant colon cancer.This insight not only offers a theoretical foundation for therapeutic approaches but also highlights the need for additional clinical trials and fundamental research to support our preliminary findings.

Molecular Cloning of sodB Gene from Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901 and Its Bioinformatics Analysis

Vibrio alginolyticus is a zoonotic bacterium.A pair of specific primers was designed using the sodB gene sequence of Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901 in order to amplify the full length of the gene by PCR.The results indicated that the total length of the sodB gene was 585 bp and that it could encode 194 amino acids.The predicted amino acid sequence derivation indicated that the molecular weight of the protein was approximately 21.56 kDa,with an isoelectric point of 4.95.Upon prediction of the N-terminal signal peptide structure of the protein,no significant signal peptide cleavage site was observed,indicating that the protein lacked both a signal peptide and a transmembrane region.The amino acid sequence contained an N-glycosylation site,a casein kinase II phosphorylation site,a microsomal C-terminal target signal site,and a manganese and iron superoxide dismutase signal site.The probability of intracytoplasmic localization of the SodB protein was 56.5%,which was analyzed according to the subcellular localization of the protein.The amino acid sequence of the sodB gene of V.alginolyticus exhibited 98%-100%homology to other Vibrio species,clustering into the same subfamily with V.parahaem,indicating a relatively close relationship between them.In the prediction of protein structure,the proportions ofα-helix,random coil,β-sheet,and extended strand were 48.45%,30.41%,5.67%,and 15.46%,respectively.The similarity to template 1dt0.1.A reached 71.58%.A PTM site analysis revealed the presence of phosphorylation,glycosylation,ubiquitination,sumoylation,acetylation,and methylation modification sites,as well as the absence of lactylation modification sites.

Molecular Cloning and Bioinformatics Analysis of msrA Gene from Vibrio alginolyticus Strain HY9901

[Objectives]This study was conducted to understand the structure and function of MsrA protein.[Methods]With Vibrio alginolyticus HY9901 as the object of study,primers were designed to amplify the full-length gene of msrA,and its bioinformatics analysis was carried out.[Results]The full length of msrA gene was 639 bp,encoding 212 amino acids,and its theoretical molecular weight was about 23729.60 Da.The protein had a stable structure,and it was hydrophobic overall.The structure of signal peptides at the N terminal of the amino acid sequence was predicted,and it was found that there was no signal peptide cleavage site and no transmembrane region.The amino acid sequence of MsrA contained multiple signal binding sites.Protein subcellular localization showed that MsrA protein was most likely located in the cytoplasm.Homology analysis showed that MsrA of V.alginolyticus had high homology with other Vibrio species,and the highest homology with V.alginolyticus.In the prediction of functional domains,MsrA had the function of methionine sulfoxide reduction.In secondary structure prediction,MsrA contained random coils at a proportion of 46.70%,which was the highest.The similarity between the tertiary structure model of MsrA and template Q87SW6.1.A was 89.15%.PTM analysis showed that MsrA protein had many PTM modification sites such as phosphorylation and glycosylation sites.[Conclusions]This study provides some reference value for further study on the role of MsrA in bacterial antioxidant stress.

Molecular Cloning and Bioinformatics Analysis of cyaA Gene of Vibrio alginolyticus Strain HY9901

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the biological functions of cyaA gene of Vibrio alginolyticus.[Methods]With DNA of V.alginolyticus HY 9901 as a template,primers were designed according to the sequence of cyaA gene,and the cyaA gene was amplified by PCR.Bioinformatics analysis was performed.[Results]The cyaA gene of V.alginolyticus HY9901 was 2529 bp in size,and encoded 842 amino acids.The molecular structure of CyaA protein was C_(4358)H_(6745)N_(1171)O_(1286)S_(35).Its theoretical molecular weight was 97.24167 kDa and the theoretical pI value was 5.56.It had no signal peptide and transmembrane domain.CyaA protein had three N-terminal glycosylation sites,one cAMP and cGMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site,nine protein kinase C phosphorylation sites,nine casein kinase II phosphorylation sites,one tyrosine kinase phosphorylation site,seven N-terminal myristoylation sites,one pentenyl binding site and ten microbody C-terminal localization signal sites.Subcellular localization prediction showed that CyaA protein was mainly located in the nucleus and cytoplasm.Through multi-sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree construction,it was concluded that V.alginolyticus had high CyaA homology with other Vibrio species.cyaA of V.alginolyticus was clustered with Vibrio fluminensis and Vibrio marinisedimini,and they were closely related.The secondary structure of CyaA protein consisted ofα-helixes(43.11%),random coils(38.00%)and extended strands(14.49%).In protein network interaction,it was found that the proteins adjacent to CyaA protein were Crp-2,CpdA,Crr,PtsG-2,ANP67209.1,Crp-1,PykF,Pyk,RelA and Ndk.[Conclusions]This study provides a new idea for formulating strategies for the prevention and control of vibriosis.

Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the mechanism by which erythropoietin promotes recovery from traumatic brain injury in mice

Recent studies have found that erythropoietin promotes the recovery of neurological function after traumatic brain injury.However,the precise mechanism of action remains unclea r.In this study,we induced moderate traumatic brain injury in mice by intrape ritoneal injection of erythro poietin for 3 consecutive days.RNA sequencing detected a total of 4065 differentially expressed RNAs,including 1059 mRNAs,92 microRNAs,799 long non-coding RNAs,and 2115circular RNAs.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyses revealed that the coding and non-coding RNAs that were differentially expressed after traumatic brain injury and treatment with erythropoietin play roles in the axon guidance pathway,Wnt pathway,and MAPK pathway.Constructing competing endogenous RNA networks showed that regulatory relationship between the differentially expressed non-coding RNAs and mRNAs.Because the axon guidance pathway was repeatedly enriched,the expression of Wnt5a and Ephb6,key factors in the axonal guidance pathway,was assessed.Ephb6 expression decreased and Wnt5a expression increased after traumatic brain injury,and these effects were reversed by treatment with erythro poietin.These findings suggest that erythro poietin can promote recove ry of nerve function after traumatic brain injury through the axon guidance pathway.

Transcriptome analysis reveals steroid hormones biosynthesis pathway involved in abdominal fat deposition in broilers

Excessive abdominal fat deposition reduces the feed efficiency and increase the cost of production in broilers.Therefore,it is an important task for poultry breeders to breed broilers with low abdominal fat.Abdominal fat deposition is a highly complex biological process,and its molecular basis remains elusive.In this study,we performed transcriptome analysis to compare gene expression profiles at different stages of abdominal fat deposition to identify the key genes and pathways involved in abdominal fat accumulation.We found that abdominal fat weight(AFW)increased gradually from day 35(D35)to 91(D91),and then decreased at day 119(D119).Accordingly,after detecting differentially expressed genes(DEGs)by comparing gene expression profiles at D35 vs.D63 and D35 vs.D91,and identifying gene modules associated with fat deposition by weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),we performed intersection analysis of the detected DEGs and WGCNA gene modules and identified 394 and 435 intersecting genes,respectively.The results of the Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses showed that the steroid hormone biosynthesis and insulin signaling pathways were co-enriched in all intersecting genes,steroid hormones have been shown that regulated insulin signaling pathway,indicating the importance of the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway in the development of broiler abdominal fat.We then identified 6 hub genes(ACTB,SOX9,RHOBTB2,PDLIM3,NEDD9,and DOCK4)related to abdominal fat deposition.Further analysis also revealed that there were direct interactions between 6 hub genes.SOX9 has been shown to bind to proteins required for steroid hormone receptor binding,and RHOBTB2 indirectly regulates the steroid hormones biosynthesis through cyclin factor,and ultimately affect fat deposition.Our results suggest that the genes RHOBTB2 and SOX9 play an important role in fat deposition in broilers,by regulating steroid hormone synthesis.These findings provide new targets and directions for further studies on the mechanisms of fat deposition in chicken.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Tomato Cultivars with Different Shelf-Life Traits

Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)is a perishable fruit because of its fast water loss and susceptibility to pathogens in the post-harvest stage,which leads to huge economic losses every year.In this study,firstly from 19 tomato cultivars,we screened out two cultivars,Riogrand and SalarF1,having long and short shelf-life spans,respectively.Secondly,shelf-life analysis was carried out for both cultivars at room temperature.Results exhibited that Riogrand showed higher firmness and less weight loss than SalarF1.The ethylene production was higher in SalarF1,compared with Riogrand during post-harvest storages.We performed transcriptomic analysis of both cultivars in different storage stages.We discovered 2913,2188,and 11,119 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)for three post-harvest stages(0,20,and 40 Days Post-Harvest(DPH)),respectively.These genes are enriched in ethylene biosynthesis and response,as well as cell wall-related genes.Ethylene response factor(ERF)ERF2 and ERF4 were highly expressed in SalarF1 with a short shelf life in 40 DPH,and the ethylene biosynthetic genes ACO1,ACO4,ACS6,and ACS2 were significantly upregulated in SalarF1.Regarding cell wall loosening and cell wall-related genes XTH3,XTH7,XTH23,1,3;1,4-β-D-Gluc-like,pGlcT1,Cellulase,PGH1,PL5,PL-like 1,PL-like 2 exhibited the highest levels of significance,being notably upregulated in the last stage of SalarF1.The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)analysis validated these gene expressions,which is in line with the transcriptome analysis.The findings suggested that the extension of tomato fruit shelf life is mostly dependent on ethylene biosynthesis,signaling pathway genes,cell wall loosening,and cell wall-associated genes.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Association between Ewing’s Sarcoma and Tuberculosis Comorbidity

Objective To screen and analyze the differentially expressed genes of Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) and Tuberculosis (TB) by bioinformatics. Methods GEO gene chip public database in NCBI was used for data retrieval, and chip data GSE17674 and GSE57736 were selected as analysis objects. The R language limma toolkit was used to screen DEmRNAs, and the data were standardized, and the common differentially expressed genes were screened by Venn diagram. The GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of common differentially expressed genes were analyzed by using the R cluster Profiler package. String database was selected for PPI analysis, and the results were imported into Cytoscape software to obtain PPI interaction map, core module and Hub gene. Import Hub gene into BioGPS database. Results: A total of 3 Hub genes were screened, namely CD3D, LCK, KLRB1;The genes were imported into BioGPS database to obtain the specific genes. Conclusion The selected differential genes and related signaling pathways are helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of ES and TB, and can provide the basis for early diagnosis of ES complicated with TB. It also provides new ideas for clinical treatment and diagnosis.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Biological Properties of Ewing Sarcoma

Purpose: Bioinformatics-based approach to screen and analyze differentially expressed genes associated with the biological characteristics of Ewing sarcoma. Means: The GSE17674 dataset was selected for analysis, obtained by data retrieval based on the GEO public database. The R language limma toolkit was used to screen DEmRNAs. After the data were normalized, the Metascape online analysis software and the R language clusterProfiler package were used to analyze the GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of DEmRNAs lines, respectively. The string database was selected for PPI analysis, and the results were imported into Cytoscape software to derive the core modules and predicted core genes. The genes selected above were analyzed for tissue localization specificity. Results: Through the analysis of GSE17674, differentially expressed genes were screened out, and GO and KEGG analyses were performed on the differentially expressed genes. The GO functional enrichment analysis was mainly enriched in the process of muscle system, muscle contraction, myocyte development, contractile fibers, myogenic fibers, myofibers, myofibrillar segments, actin binding, structural composition of muscle, and actin filament binding. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the core pathways associated with the development of ES were the core genes for myocardial contraction, congestive cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Five Hub genes were obtained based on Cytoscape prediction. Tissue localization specificity analysis of Hub genes was performed, and a total of 2 Hub genes with tissue specificity were screened;MYH6 was specifically expressed in cardiac cells and MYL1 was specifically expressed in skeletal muscle cells. Conclusions: The differential genes screened will help to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the highly invasive and metastasis-prone biological characteristics of ES, as well as provide new ideas for clinical drug-targeted treatment of ES.

Transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network analysis of jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)fruit reveal putative genes involved in proanthocyanin biosynthesis and regulation

Proanthocyanidin(PA)is an important bioactive compound with multiple physiological benefits in jujube(Ziziphus jujube Mill.).However,the molecular mechanisms underlying PA biosynthesis in jujube fruit have not been investigated.Here,the profiling of PA,(+)-catechin and(–)-epicatechin and transcriptome sequencing of three jujube cultivars from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China at five developmental stages were analyzed.The levels of total PAs and catechin exhibited a decreased trend over jujube ripening,and epicatechin content of two jujube cultivars increased first and then declined.Transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were mainly enriched in ribosome,glycolysis/gluconeogenesis,fructose and mannose metabolism.17 DEGs encoding PAL,CHS,CHI,CHS,F3'H,LAR,ANR,C4Hs,4CLs,FLSs,DFRs and UFGTs involved in PA biosynthesis were relatively abundant.The highly transcribed LAR gene may greatly contribute to epicatechin accumulation.A weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)was performed,and a network module including 1620 genes highly correlated with content of Pas and catechin was established.We identified 58 genes including 9 structural genes and 49 regulatory genes related to PA biosynthesis and regulation in the WGCNA module.Sixteen genes encoding 9 families of transcriptional factors(i.e.,MYB,bHLH,ERF,bZIP,NAC,SBP,MIKC,HB,WRKY)were considered as hub genes.The results of qRT-PCR analysis validating 10 genes were well consistent with the transcriptome data.These findings provide valuable knowledge to facilitate its genetic studies and molecular breeding.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Relationship between Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Chronic Heart Failure

Objective: To screen and analyze the differentially expressed genes between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and chronic heart failure (CHF) based on bioinformatics methods. Methods: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used for data retrieval, and the chip data GSE3585 was downloaded, which was the original data of DCM and normal control group. At the same time, the chip data GSE76701 was downloaded, which was the original data of CHF and control group. Differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were screened by R language limma package, the data were standardized, and the common differentially expressed genes were screened. GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the common differentially expressed genes. String11.0 online tool was used for data analysis to obtain differentially expressed genes, and the results were imported into Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. The results were imported into Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and the common expression gene module was obtained by MOCDE algorithm. Nine Hub genes were obtained by 10 algorithms such as MCC. Results: A total of 248 differentially expressed genes were screened. GO analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly concentrated in 9 different physiological and pathological processes. KEGG analysis showed that the main signaling pathways involved in differentially expressed genes were 2, and 9 key differentially expressed genes were predicted: NPPB, NPPA, MYH6, FRZB, ASPN, SFRP4, RPS4Y1, DDX3Y. Conclusion: This study preliminarily explored the molecular mechanism of DCM and CHF, and obtained the common differentially expressed genes of the two diseases. Further experimental studies are needed to verify the correlation between gene expression and clinicopathological features. Provide new ideas for clinical drug treatment research.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals similarities and differences of molecular features between dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies represent the most common clinical and genetic heterogeneous group of diseases that affect the heart function.Though progress has been made to elucidate the process,molecular mechanisms of different classes of cardiomyopathies remain elusive.This paper aims to describe the similarities and differences in molecular features of dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)and ischemic cardiomyopathy(ICM).We firstly detected the co-expressed modules using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA).Significant modules associated with DCM/ICM were identified by the Pearson correlation coefficient(PCC)between the modules and the phenotype of DCM/ICM.The differentially expressed genes in the modules were selected to perform functional enrichment.The potential transcription factors(TFs)prediction was conducted for transcription regulation of hub genes.Apoptosis and cardiac conduction were perturbed in DCM and ICM,respectively.TFs demonstrated that the biomarkers and the transcription regulations in DCM and ICM were different,which helps make more accurate discrimination between them at molecular levels.In conclusion,comprehensive analyses of the molecular features may advance our understanding of DCM and ICM causes and progression.Thus,this understanding may promote the development of innovative diagnoses and treatments.

Transcriptome analysis reveals potential genes associated with plant height in rice

Plant height(PH)is a complex trait regulated by the environment and multiple genes.PH directly affects crop yield,harvest index,and lodging resistance.From plant dwarf mutants,many genes related to PH have been identified and described.Nonetheless,the molecular mechanism of height regulation in high-culm rice mutants has not been well studied.By using transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),we identified the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between high-culm rice mutants(MUT)and wild-type(WT)and explored the key pathways and potential candidate genes involved in PH regulation.Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 2,184 DEGs,of which 1,317 were identified at the jointing stage and 1,512 were identified at the heading stage.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment showed that the enrichment pathways were mainly involved in plant hormone signal transduction,ABC transportation,and steroid hormone biosynthesis.Among these metabolic pathways,LOC_Os05g43910 and LOC_Os01g35030 were auxin(IAA)-related genes,up-regulated in MUT and LOC_Os02g08500(LEPTO1),LOC_Os11g04720,and LOC_Os12g04500 were cytokinin(CK)-related genes,downregulated in MUT.The WGCNA identified four modules(light cyan,dark grey,grey,and pale turquoise)closely related to PH,and seven key genes were screened from these modules,of which two were up-regulated cell wallrelated genes(LOC_Os01g26174(OsWAK5),LOC_Os06g05050)in MUT,and one gibberellic acid(GA)gene(LOC_Os06g37364,OsKO2)was also up-regulated.These genes might be closely related to PH regulation.These findings help us better understand the transcriptional regulation of rice plant growth and development and provide a theoretical basis for mapping and cloning the PH regulatory genes.

Identification and expression analysis of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis key gene PpHCT in peach

Shikimic acid/quinic acid hydroxy cinnamyl transferase(HCT)is one of the key enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway.However,the role of the HCT gene in chlorogenic acid(CGA)biosynthesis in peach fruit remains unclear.For this,we identified the accumulation pattern of CGA in four peach cultivars,cloned and characterized 11 PpHCT gene members,and further analyzed the expression patterns of these PpHCT genes during fruit development.The contents of CGAs in the four peach cultivars all exhibited a trend of increasing and then decreasing during the fruit growth and development.Moreover,the contents of CGAs in the peel and flesh were tissue-specific.Gene structure analysis indicated that the PpHCT genes were highly conserved,containing two exons and one intron.The protein structure analysis demonstrated that the PpHCT proteins contained two conserved motifs(HXXXD,DFGWG)and a transferase domain(PF02458),which belonged to the BAHD acyltransferase family.The cis-acting element analysis suggested that the promoters of PpHCT genes contained many light-related,hormone-related,stress-related,tissue-specific,and circadian-related elements,and they could participate in a variety of biological processes.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the HCT proteins of peach were closely related to the HCT proteins of plum and had a close evolutionary relationship.The qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression levels of PpHCT1 and PpHCT2 showed an opposite trend to the accumulation of CGA,whereas the expression levels of PpHCT4,PpHCT5,PpHCT7,PpHCT8,and PpHCT11 demonstrated the same trend as CGA accumulation.It was worth noting that only PpHCT4 and PpHCT5 were highly expressed in the two high-CGA cultivars but showed low levels of expression in the two low-CGA cultivars.Therefore,it was hypothesized that these two genes might be key genes to the synthesis of CGA in peach fruit.Those findings provide a theoretical basis for further study on the biological functions of the HCT gene and help to reveal the molecular mechanism of CGA.