新型4-苯氧基吡啶类c-Met激酶抑制剂的合成和抗肿瘤活性研究

为了发现新型高活性c-Met激酶抑制剂,以2-氨基-4-氯吡啶为原料,经醚化、酰化、烷基化、还原和酰化等多步反应,制备了6种未见文献报道的4-苯氧基吡啶类化合物,化合物结构经红外光谱、核磁共振氢谱和质谱确证.生物活性测试结果显示,6种化合物对MKN-45、A549、H460和HT-294种肿瘤细胞株具有很好的抗增殖活性,两种化合物对c-Met激酶具有很好的抑制活性.其中化合物7b抑制MKN-45、A549、H460和HT-29细胞株的IC 50值分别为1.89、5.14、0.74、0.60μmol/L.该化合物在1000 nmol/L和200 nmol/L的浓度下对c-Met激酶的抑制率分别为96.2%和82.8%,显示出了优异的抗肿瘤活性.

黄芪建中汤对脾胃虚寒证胃溃疡大鼠炎症因子及HGF/c-Met信号通路的影响

目的观察黄芪建中汤对脾胃虚寒证胃溃疡大鼠炎症因子及HGF/c-Met信号通路的影响。方法将60只大鼠随机分为4组,即正常组、模型组、黄芪建中汤组[黄芪建中汤6.8 g/(kg·d)]、奥美拉唑组[奥美拉唑肠溶胶囊4.2 mg/(kg·d)],每组15只大鼠。正常组除外,其他组采用耗气破气法结合饥饱失常法进行大鼠脾胃虚寒证模型造模,再采用冰醋酸法建立大鼠胃溃疡模型。比较各组大鼠体质量、溃疡指数;HE染色观察大鼠胃组织病理学变化;采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量;免疫组化法检测胃组织中肝细胞生长因子(HGF)、肝细胞生长因子受体(c-Met)表达;荧光定量PCR检测胃组织HGF、c-Met m RNA水平。结果与正常组相比,模型组大鼠体质量降低,溃疡指数升高,IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α含量升高,HGF升高,HGF、c-Met m RNA升高(P<0.05);与模型组相比,黄芪建中汤组和奥美拉唑组大鼠体质量升高,溃疡指数降低,IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α降低,HGF升高,HGF、c-Met mRNA升高(P<0.05)。结论黄芪建中汤可以通过抑制炎症因子、调节HGF/c-Met通路的表达促进胃黏膜修复。

基于转录组测序探究C-MET表达在非小细胞肺癌中的免疫调控机制

目的通过转录组测序技术分析C-MET表达在非小细胞肺癌中的免疫调控机制。方法使用siRNA分子干扰技术将C-MET高表达肺腺癌细胞株(H1993)、肺鳞癌细胞株(EBC-1)的C-MET表达沉默,利用转录组测序技术检测C-MET沉默前后细胞差异表达的基因(DEGs),通过生物信息学分析挖掘出C-MET可能参与调控的免疫微环境信号通路及相关基因。最后使用人免疫细胞与H1993、EBC-1共培养技术验证C-MET对免疫因子(INF-γ、INF-β、CXCL-10)的影响。结果通过转录组测序技术共检测到505个DEGs,其中H1993的C-MET调控前后表达差异组的表达差异基因共有38个,上调的差异表达基因有24个,下调的差异表达基因有14个。EBC-1的C-MET调控前后表达差异组的表达差异基因共有467个,上调的差异表达基因有347个,下调的差异表达基因121个。差异基因的KEGG分析表明,C-MET表达可能通过白细胞介素(IL-17)信号通路、白细胞分化、细胞因子受体活性、细胞周期、细胞因子-细胞因子受体相互作用参与免疫细胞调节因子的调控。使用肺癌细胞与人免疫细胞共同培养技术验证C-MET对免疫因子分泌的影响,Rt-qPCR检测结果提示:与C-MET高表达组共培养的PBMC中干扰素(INF-γ)的m RNA转录水平是低表达组的77倍、CXCL-10的mRNA转录水平是低表达组的1.6倍,INF-β的mRNA转录水平是低表达组的2倍。结论C-MET表达可能通过IL-17信号通路、白细胞分化、细胞因子受体活性通路参与肿瘤周围免疫微环境调控。

Genetic dissection and validation of a major QTL for grain weight on chromosome 3B in bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Grain weight is one of the key components of wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)yield.Genetic manipulation of grain weight is an efficient approach for improving yield potential in breeding programs.A recombinant inbred line(RIL)population derived from a cross between W7268 and Chuanyu 12(CY12)was employed to detect quantitative trait loci(QTLs)for thousand-grain weight(TGW),grain length(GL),grain width(GW),and the ratio of grain length to width(GLW)in six environments.Seven major QTLs,QGl.cib-2D,QGw.cib-2D,QGw.cib-3B,QGw.cib-4B.1,QGlw.cib-2D.1,QTgw.cib-2D.1 and QTgw.cib-3B.1,were consistently identified in at least four environments and the best linear unbiased estimation(BLUE)datasets,and they explained 2.61 to 34.85%of the phenotypic variance.Significant interactions were detected between the two major TGW QTLs and three major GW loci.In addition,QTgw.cib-3B.1 and QGw.cib-3B were co-located,and the improved TGW at this locus was contributed by GW.Unlike other loci,QTgw.cib-3B.1/QGw.cib-3B had no effect on grain number per spike(GNS).They were further validated in advanced lines using Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR(KASP)markers,and a comparison analysis indicated that QTgw.cib-3B.1/QGw.cib-3B is likely a novel locus.Six haplotypes were identified in the region of this QTL and their distribution frequencies varied between the landraces and cultivars.According to gene annotation,spatial expression patterns,ortholog analysis and sequence variation,the candidate gene of QTgw.cib-3B.1/QGw.cib-3B was predicted.Collectively,the major QTLs and KASP markers reported here provide valuable information for elucidating the genetic architecture of grain weight and for molecular marker-assisted breeding in grain yield improvement.

A review of the literature on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma

Noncoding RNAs instruct the Cas9 nuclease to site speifillyl cleave DNA in the CRISPR/Cas9 system.Despite the high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),the patient's outcome is poor.As a result of the emergence of therapeutic resistance in HCC patients,dlinicians have faced difficulties in treating such tumor.In addition,CRISPR/Cas9 screens were used to identify genes that improve the dlinical response of HCC patients.It is the objective of this article to summarize the current understanding of the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for the treatment of cancer,with a particular emphasis on HCC as part of the current state of knowledge.Thus,in order to locate recent developments in oncology research,we examined both the Scopus database and the PubMed database.The ability to selectively interfere with gene expression in combinatorial CRISPR/Cas9 screening can lead to the discovery of new effective HCC treatment regimens by combining clinically approved drugs.Drug resistance can be overcome with the help of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.HCC signature genes and resistance to treatment have been uncovered by genome-scale CRISPR activation screening although this method is not without limitations.It has been extensively examined whether CRISPR can be used as a tool for disease research and gene therapy.CRISPR and its applications to tumor research,particularly in HCC,are examined in this study through a review of the literature.

Genetically modified non-human primate models for research on neurodegenerative diseases

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.

猫爪草总皂苷基于Sema4D/PlxnB1/c-Met通路对A549裸鼠移植瘤增殖的抑制作用及机制研究

目的:探讨猫爪草总皂苷(TSRT)基于Sema4D/PlxnB1/c-Met通路对人非小细胞肺癌A549裸鼠移植瘤增殖的抑制作用及机制。方法:成功构建A549裸鼠移植瘤模型后,随机分为空白组、阴性组、过表达组和药物组(1.73g/kg TSRT),记录成瘤情况并绘制肿瘤生长曲线,实验结束后剥离移植瘤并称重;RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测各组Sema4D、PlxnB1、c-Met mRNA和蛋白表达差异;免疫组化检测Sema4D阳性表达率。结果:与空白组相比,过表达组接种20d后的肿瘤体积显著增加,肿瘤重量明显增加,Sema4D、PlxnB1、c-Met mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著升高,Sema4D阳性表达率显著提高(P<0.01);与过表达组相比,药物组接种20d后肿瘤体积明显降低,瘤重显著降低,Sema4D、PlxnB1、c-Met mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下降,Sema4D阳性表达率明显降低(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:TSRT能显著抑制人肺癌裸鼠移植瘤的生长,其作用机制可能与抑制Sema4D/PlxnB1/c-Met信号通路有关。

Wilm′s tumor gene1肽疫苗Galinpepimut-S在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用

目的为Wilm′s tumor gene1(WT1)肽疫苗Galinpepimut-S(GPS)用于肿瘤免疫治疗的后续研究提供参考。方法采用计算机检索中国知网、PubMed等数据库自建库起至2022年12月的肿瘤免疫治疗相关文献,总结GPS在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用现状。结果GPS能激发自身免疫系统,对WT1抗原产生强烈免疫反应而发挥抗肿瘤作用,在卵巢癌、恶性胸膜间皮瘤、急性髓系白血病、多发性骨髓瘤的治疗中均显示出较好的疗效。结论以GPS为代表的肿瘤疫苗是未来肿瘤治疗的重要方向,需进一步进行临床研究,以获取更多数据。

宫颈癌患者癌组织c-Met mRNA与NF-κB mRNA表达的关系及其对预后的影响

目的分析肝细胞生长因子受体原癌基因c-Met mRNA与核因子-κB(NF-κB)mRNA在宫颈癌发病中的关系及对宫颈癌患者预后的影响。方法选取本院宫颈癌患者89例作为癌变组,宫颈癌前病变患者89例作为癌前病变组,因子宫肌瘤行全子宫切除患者89例作为正常宫颈组。采用RT-PCR检测3组宫颈组织中c-Met、NF-κB mRNA相对表达量。采用Spearman/Pearson分析c-Met mRNA与NF-κB mRNA在宫颈癌发病中的关系。采用Kaplan-Meier曲线分析不同c-Met mRNA、NF-κB mRNA表达水平患者的3年生存率。结果宫颈组织中c-Met、NF-κB mRNA相对表达量,癌变组>癌前病变组>正常宫颈组(P<0.05)。癌前病变组、癌变组c-Met mRNA与NF-κB mRNA呈正相关(P<0.001)。c-Met高表达与NF-κB mRNA高表达在宫颈癌发病中呈正向交互作用(P<0.05)。c-Met、NF-κB mRNA与宫颈癌临床分期、淋巴结转移、脉管浸润呈正相关,与分化程度呈负相关(P<0.05)。癌变组c-Met、NF-κB mRNA高表达患者3年生存率低于低表达患者(P<0.05)。结论c-Met mRNA与NF-κB mRNA高表达在宫颈癌发病中呈正向交互作用,与临床分期、淋巴结转移、脉管浸润呈正相关,且宫颈癌患者3年生存率显著降低。

AMME chromosomal region gene 1基因变异矮小相关综合征一例及文献复习

目的探讨1例身材矮小、面中部发育不全患儿的病因,以提高临床医师对特殊矮小综合征的认识。方法收集1例身材矮小、面中部发育不全患儿的临床资料,对患儿及父母行基因检测,并给予患儿常规治疗、随访。结果结合患儿特殊面容及基因检测,诊断为AMMECR1基因变异矮小相关综合征,结合文献复习总结AMMECR1基因变异矮小相关综合征特点。结论AMMECR1基因变异矮小相关综合征是一种罕见的X连锁遗传性疾病,临床主要表现为身材矮小、运动语言落后、肌张力减低、听力损失、面中部发育不全,部分存在心脏改变、腭裂、骨骼改变及椭圆形红细胞增多症、智力落后和肾钙质沉着症。该文报道1例AMMECR1基因新变异引起身材矮小、面中部发育不全患儿的病例资料,结合特殊面容及基因检测,诊断为AMMECR1基因变异矮小相关综合征。AMMECR1基因变异矮小相关综合征是一种罕见的X连锁遗传性疾病,本文初步概括其特点,并结合文献进行分析,以提高临床医师对AMMECR1基因变异矮小相关综合征的诊治。

Identification of hub genes associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus:A pilot bioinformatics study

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is related to various extragastric diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).However,the possible mechanisms connecting H.pylori infection and T2DM remain unknown.AIM To explore potential molecular connections between H.pylori infection and T2DM.METHODS We extracted gene expression arrays from three online datasets(GSE60427,GSE27411 and GSE115601).Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)commonly present in patients with H.pylori infection and T2DM were identified.Hub genes were validated using human gastric biopsy samples.Correlations between hub genes and immune cell infiltration,miRNAs,and transcription factors(TFs)were further analyzed.RESULTS A total of 67 DEGs were commonly presented in patients with H.pylori infection and T2DM.Five significantly upregulated hub genes,including TLR4,ITGAM,C5AR1,FCER1G,and FCGR2A,were finally identified,all of which are closely related to immune cell infiltration.The gene-miRNA analysis detected 13 miRNAs with at least two gene cross-links.TF-gene interaction networks showed that TLR4 was coregulated by 26 TFs,the largest number of TFs among the 5 hub genes.CONCLUSION We identified five hub genes that may have molecular connections between H.pylori infection and T2DM.This study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of H.pylori-induced onset of T2DM.

CTC、RON及c-Met在早期三阴性乳腺癌预后预测中的作用

目的 分析循环肿瘤细胞(CTC)、受体酪氨酸激酶(RON)及间质表皮转化因子(c-Met在早期三阴性乳腺癌(TNBC)预后预测中的作用。方法 分析2018年1月至2021年1月于郑州大学第一附属医院进行诊治的1 225例乳腺癌患者资料,根据纳入标准最终选取168例TNBC患者设为研究组,选取患者癌旁3 cm的组织为对照组,另选取同时期在本院进行健康体检者168名为健康组。根据患者治疗后的预后情况将研究组分为预后良好组(n=142)以及预后不良组(n=26)。比较研究组与健康组CTC的表达情况,比较研究组与对照组c-Met与RON的表达情况,采用多元Logistic回归分析影响TNBC预后的独立危险因素;并通过受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析c-Met、RON、CTC对TNBC患者预后的预测价值。结果 研究组CTC水平高于健康组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);研究组c-Met与RON阳性表达高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);预后良好组、预后不良组年龄、肿瘤直径比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),预后良好组、预后不良组腋窝淋巴结、体重指数、糖尿病、RON、c-Met、CTC比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),经非条件多因素logistic回归模型分析显示,腋窝淋巴结转移、CTC阳性、RON阳性、c-Met阳性为TNBC患者预后的危险因素(P<0.05)。CTC、RON及c-Met单独检测以及三者联合检测AUC分别为0.764、0.778、0.776、0.857,其中三者联合检测AUC值最大。结论 联合检测RON、c-MET、CTC水平对TNBC患者预后具有一定的预测价值。

RNA sequencing of exosomes secreted by fibroblast and Schwann cells elucidates mechanisms underlying peripheral nerve regeneration

Exosomes exhibit complex biological functions and mediate a variety of biological processes,such as promoting axonal regeneration and functional recove ry after injury.Long non-coding RNAs(IncRNAs)have been reported to play a crucial role in axonal regeneration.Howeve r,the role of the IncRNA-microRNAmessenger RNA(mRNA)-competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)network in exosome-mediated axonal regeneration remains unclear.In this study,we performed RNA transcriptome sequencing analysis to assess mRNA expression patterns in exosomes produced by cultured fibroblasts(FC-EXOs)and Schwann cells(SCEXOs).Diffe rential gene expression analysis,Gene Ontology analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis,and protein-protein intera ction network analysis were used to explo re the functions and related pathways of RNAs isolated from FC-EXOs and SC-EXOs.We found that the ribosome-related central gene Rps5 was enriched in FC-EXOs and SC-EXOs,which suggests that it may promote axonal regeneration.In addition,using the miRWalk and Starbase prediction databases,we constructed a regulatory network of ceRNAs targeting Rps5,including 27 microRNAs and five IncRNAs.The ceRNA regulatory network,which included Ftx and Miat,revealed that exsosome-derived Rps5 inhibits scar formation and promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery after nerve injury.Our findings suggest that exosomes derived from fibro blast and Schwann cells could be used to treat injuries of peripheral nervous system.

Mining elite loci and candidate genes for root morphology-related traits at the seedling stage by genome-wide association studies in upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Root system architecture plays an essential role in water and nutrient acquisition in plants,and it is significantly involved in plant adaptations to various environmental stresses.In this study,a panel of 242 cotton accessions was collected to investigate six root morphological traits at the seedling stage,including main root length(MRL),root fresh weight(RFW),total root length(TRL),root surface area(RSA),root volume(RV),and root average diameter(AvgD).The correlation analysis of the six root morphological traits revealed strong positive correlations of TRL with RSA,as well as RV with RSA and AvgD,whereas a significant negative correlation was found between TRL and AvgD.Subsequently,a genome-wide association study(GWAS)was performed using the root phenotypic and genotypic data reported previously for the 242 accessions using 56,010 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from the CottonSNP80K array.A total of 41 quantitative trait loci(QTLs)were identified,including nine for MRL,six for RFW,nine for TRL,12 for RSA,12 for RV and two for AvgD.Among them,eight QTLs were repeatedly detected in two or more traits.Integrating these results with a transcriptome analysis,we identified 17 candidate genes with high transcript values of transcripts per million(TPM)≥30 in the roots.Furthermore,we functionally verified the candidate gene GH_D05G2106,which encodes a WPP domain protein 2in root development.A virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS)assay showed that knocking down GH_D05G2106significantly inhibited root development in cotton,indicating its positive role in root system architecture formation.Collectively,these results provide a theoretical basis and candidate genes for future studies on cotton root developmental biology and root-related cotton breeding.

Genetic and epigenetic targets of natural dietary compounds as anti-Alzheimer's agents

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia that principally affects older adults.Pathogenic factors,such as oxidative stress,an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity,mitochondrial dysfunction,genotoxicity,and neuroinflammation are present in this syndrome,which leads to neurodegeneration.Neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease are considered late-onset diseases caused by the complex combination of genetic,epigenetic,and environmental factors.There are two main types of Alzheimer’s disease,known as familial Alzheimer’s disease(onset<65 years)and late-onset or sporadic Alzheimer’s disease(onset≥65 years).Patients with familial Alzheimer’s disease inherit the disease due to rare mutations on the amyloid precursor protein(APP),presenilin 1 and 2(PSEN1 and PSEN2)genes in an autosomaldominantly fashion with closely 100%penetrance.In contrast,a different picture seems to emerge for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease,which exhibits numerous non-Mendelian anomalies suggesting an epigenetic component in its etiology.Importantly,the fundamental pathophysiological mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s disease are interfaced with epigenetic dysregulation.However,the dynamic nature of epigenetics seems to open up new avenues and hope in regenerative neurogenesis to improve brain repair in Alzheimer’s disease or following injury or stroke in humans.In recent years,there has been an increase in interest in using natural products for the treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease.Through epigenetic mechanisms,such as DNA methylation,non-coding RNAs,histone modification,and chromatin conformation regulation,natural compounds appear to exert neuroprotective effects.While we do not purport to cover every in this work,we do attempt to illustrate how various phytochemical compounds regulate the epigenetic effects of a few Alzheimer’s disease-related genes.

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).

A flexible,modular and versatile functional part assembly toolkit for gene cluster engineering in Streptomyces

Streptomyces has enormous potential to produce novel natural products(NPs)as it harbors a huge reservoir of uncharacterized and silent natural product biosynthetic gene clusters(BGCs).However,the lack of efficient gene cluster engineering strategies has hampered the pace of new drug discovery.Here,we developed an easy-to-use,highly flexible DNA assembly toolkit for gene cluster engineering.The DNA assembly toolkit is compatible with various DNA assembling approaches including Biobrick,Golden Gate,CATCH,yeast homologous recombination-based DNA assembly and homing endonuclease-mediated assembly.This compatibility offers great flexibility in handling multiple genetic parts or refactoring large gene clusters.To demonstrate the utility of this toolkit,we quantified a library of modular regulatory parts,and engineered a gene cluster(act)using characterized promoters that led to increased production.Overall,this work provides a powerful part assembly toolkit that can be used for natural product discovery and optimization in Streptomyces.

A rare missense PAX6 mutation causes atypical aniridia in a three-generation Chinese family

●AIM:To investigate the molecular diagnosis of a threegeneration Chinese family affected with aniridia,and further to identify clinically a PAX6 missense mutation in members with atypical aniridia.●METHODS:Eleven family members with and without atypical aniridia were recruited.All family members underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations.A combination of whole exome sequencing(WES)and direct Sanger sequencing were performed to uncover the causative mutation.●RESULTS:Among the 11 family members,8 were clinically diagnosed with congenital aniridia(atypical aniridia phenotype).A rare heterozygous mutation c.622C>T(p.Arg208Trp)in exon 8 of PAX6 was identified in all affected family members but not in the unaffected members or in healthy control subjects.●CONCLUSION:A rare missense mutation in the PAX6 gene is found in members of a three-generation Chinese family with congenital atypical aniridia.This result contributes to an increase in the phenotypic spectrum caused by PAX6 missense heterozygous variants and provides useful information for the clinical diagnosis of atypical aniridia,which may also contribute to genetic counselling and family planning.

Fine mapping and characterization of stripe rust resistance gene YrAYH in near-isogenic lines derived from a cross involving wheat landrace Anyuehong

Stripe rust,caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici(Pst),is a devastating disease in wheat worldwide.Discovering and characterizing new resistance genes/QTL is crucial for wheat breeding programs.In this study,we fine-mapped and characterized a stripe rust resistance gene,YRAYH,on chromosome arm 5BL in the Chinese wheat landrace Anyuehong(AYH).Evaluations of stripe rust response to prevalent Chinese Pst races in near-isogenic lines derived from a cross of Anyuehong and Taichung 29 showed that YrAYH conferred a high level of resistance at all growth stages.Fine mapping using a large segregating population of 9748 plants,narrowed the YRAYH locus to a 3.7 Mb interval on chromosome arm 5BL that included 61 annotated genes.Transcriptome analysis of two NIL pairs identified 64 upregulated differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in the resistant NILs(NILs-R).Annotations indicated that many of these genes have roles in plant disease resistance pathways.Through a combined approach of fine-mapping and transcriptome sequencing,we identified a serine/threonine-protein kinase SRPK as a candidate gene underlying YrAYH.A unique 25 bp insertion was identified in the NILs-R compared to the NILs-S and previously published wheat genomes.An InDel marker was developed and co-segregated with YrAYH.Agronomic trait evaluation of the NILs suggested that YrAYH not only reduces the impact of stripe rust but was also associated with a gene that increases plant height and spike length.

Genetic dissection and origin of pleiotropic loci underlying multilevel fiber quality traits in upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton fiber quality is a persistent concern that determines planting benefits and the quality of finished textile products.However,the limitations of measurement instruments have hindered the accurate evaluation of some important fiber characteristics such as fiber maturity,fineness,and neps,which in turn has impeded the genetic improvement and industrial utilization of cotton fiber.Here,12 single fiber quality traits were measured using Advanced Fiber Information System(AFIS)equipment among 383 accessions of upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.).In addition,eight conventional fiber quality traits were assessed by the High Volume Instrument(HVI)System.Genome-wide association study(GWAS),linkage disequilibrium(LD)block genotyping and functional identification were conducted sequentially to uncover the associated elite loci and candidate genes of fiber quality traits.As a result,the previously reported pleiotropic locus FL_D11 regulating fiber length-related traits was identified in this study.More importantly,three novel pleiotropic loci(FM_A03,FF_A05,and FN_A07)regulating fiber maturity,fineness and neps,respectively,were detected based on AFIS traits.Numerous highly promising candidate genes were screened out by integrating RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses,including the reported GhKRP6 for fiber length,the newly identified GhMAP8 for maturity and GhDFR for fineness.The origin and evolutionary analysis of pleiotropic loci indicated that the selection pressure on FL_D11,FM_A03 and FF_A05 increased as the breeding period approached the present and the origins of FM_A03 and FF_A05 were traced back to cotton landraces.These findings reveal the genetic basis underlying fiber quality and provide insight into the genetic improvement and textile utilization of fiber in G.hirsutum.