Identification and Validation of Candidate Radiation-responsive Genes for Human Biodosimetry

The aim of the present study is to analyze the global research trend of radiation-responsive genes and identify the highly reproducible radiation-responsive genes. Bibliometric methods were applied to analyze the global research trend of radiation-responsive genes. We found 79 publications on radiation-responsive genes from 2000 to 2017. A total of 35 highly reproducible radiation-responsive genes were identified. Most genes are involved in response to DNA damage, cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair.The p53 signal pathway was the top enriched pathway. The expression levels of 18 genes in human B lymphoblastoid cell line（AHH-1） cells were significantly up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h after exposure to 0-5 Gy ^60 Coγ-ray irradiation. Our results indicate that developing a gene expression panel with the 35 high reproducibility radiation-responsive genes may be necessary for qualitative and quantitative assessment after exposure.

Identification of candidate genes related to soluble sugar contents in soybean seeds using multiple genetic analyses

Soluble sugar content in seeds is an important quality trait of soybean. In this study, 57 quantitative trait loci(QTLs) related to soluble sugar contents in soybean seeds were collected from databases and published papers. After meta-overview-collinearity integrated analysis to refine QTL intervals, eight consensus QTLs were identified. To further verify the consensus QTLs, a population of chromosome segment substitution lines(CSSLs) was analyzed. Two lines containing fragments covering the regions of consensus QTLs and the recurrent parent were selected: one line showed high soluble sugar contents associated with a consensus QTL fragment, and the other line showed low soluble sugar contents. Transcriptome sequencing was conducted for these two lines at the early, middle, and late stages of seed development, which identified 158, 109 and 329 differentially expressed genes, respectively. Based on the analyses of re-sequencing data of the CSSLs and the consensus QTL region, three candidate genes(Glyma.19 G146800, Glyma.19 G122500, and Glyma.19 G128500) were identified in the genetic fragments introduced from wild soybean. Sequence comparisons between the two CSSL parents SN14 and ZYD00006 revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) mutation in the coding sequence of Glyma.19 G122500, causing a nonsynonymous mutation in the amino acid sequence that affected the predicted protein structure. A Kompetitive allele-specific PCR(KASP) marker was developed based on this SNP and used to evaluate the CSSLs. These results lay the foundation for further research to identify genes related to soluble sugar contents in soybean seeds and for future soybean breeding.

A major vernalization-independent QTL for tiller angle on chromosome arm 2BL in bread wheat

Tiller angle(TA)strongly influences plant architecture and grain yield in cereals.However,the genetic basis of TA in wheat is largely unknown.We identified three TA-related quantitative trait loci(QTL).One of them was QTa.sau-2 B-769,a major QTL localized on chromosome arm 2 BL.QTa.sau-2 B-769 was detected in seven environments,explaining 18.1%–51.1%of phenotypic variance.We developed a linked Kompetitive Allele-Specific Polymerase chain reaction(KASP)marker,KASP-AX-108792274,to further validate this locus in three additional populations in multiple environments.QTa.sau-2 B-769 increased TA by up to 24.9%in these populations.There were significant and positive correlations between TA and flag leaf angle(FLANG).However,TA was not correlated with plant height or anthesis date,suggesting that expression of QTa.sau-2 B-769 is independent of vernalization.Traes CS2 B01 G583800,a gene known to be involved in leaf angle regulation,was identified as the most likely candidate gene for QTa.sau-2 B-769.These results enrich our understanding of the mechanisms regulating wheat TA at maturity and may support precise mapping and cloning of gene(s)underlying QTa.sau-2 B-769.