Studies on the temporal,structural,and interacting features of the clubroot resistance gene Rcr1 using CRISPR/Cas9-based systems

Clubroot disease is a severe threat to Brassica crops globally,particularly in western Canada.Genetic resistance,achieved through pyramiding clubroot resistance(CR)genes with different modes of action,is the most important strategy for managing the disease.However,studies on the CR gene functions are quite limited.In this study,we have conducted investigations into the temporal,structural,and interacting features of a newly cloned CR gene,Rcr1,using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.For temporal functionality,we developed a novel CRISPR/Cas9-based binary vector,pHHIGR-Hsp18.2,to deliver Rcr1 into a susceptible canola line(DH12075)and observed that early expression of Rcr1 is critical for conferring resistance.For structural functionality,several independent mutations in specific domains of Rcr1 resulted in loss-offunction,highlighting their importance for CR phenotype.In the study of the interacting features of Rcr1,a cysteine protease gene and its homologous allele in canola were successfully disrupted via CRISPR/Cas9 as an interacting component with Rcr1 protein,resulting in the conversion from clubroot resistant to susceptible in plants carrying intact Rcr1.These results indicated an indispensable role of these two cysteine proteases in Rcr1-mediated resistance response.This study,the first of its kind,provides valuable insights into the functionality of Rcr1.Further,the new vector p HHIGR-Hsp18.2 demonstrated an inducible feature on the removal of add-on traits,which should be useful for functional genomics and other similar research in brassica crops.

Spectrum-effect relationship of immunologic activity of Ganoderma lucidum by UPLC-MS/MS and component knock-out method

This study was designed to elucidate the immunoregulation of Ganoderma lucidum.HPLC fingerprint and spectrum-effect relationship of G.lucidum were established to predict the active compounds and BP neural network model was established to predict the efficacy.Then the target compounds were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry.The results indicated that there are both enhanced immunity and immunosuppressive components in G.lucidum.BP neural network was trained with the common peak area and immune effi cacy index of G.lucidum fi ngerprint as samples,and a combined evaluation system of G.lucidum fi ngerprint effi cacy was established.The correlation coeffi cient R of BP network model was 0.98643,and the error of pharmacodynamic prediction results was in the ideal range.Eight compounds were identifi ed by high resolution mass spectrometry.The compounds related to immune activity in G.lucidum were determined in this study.

Improve Ethanol Yield Through Minimizing Glycerol Yield in Ethanol Fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In ethanol fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae （S. cerevisiae）, glycerol is one of the main by-products. The purpose of this investigation was to increase ethanol yield through minimizing glycerol yield by using mutants in which FPS1 encoding a channel protein that mediates glycerol export and GPD2 encoding one of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were knocked-out using one-step gene replacement. GLT1 and GLN1 that encode glutamate synthase and glutamine synth.etase, respectively,were overexpressed using two-step gene replacment in fpsl△gpd2△ mutant.The fermentation properties of ZAL69（fpsl△：：LEU2 gpd2△：：URA3） and ZAL808 （fps1△：：LEU2 gpd2△：：URA3 PPGK1-GLT1 PPGK1-GLN1） under microaerobic conditions were investigated and compared with those of wild type（DC124）. Consumption of glucose, yield of ethanol, yield of glycerol, acetic acid, and pyruvic acid were monitored. Compared with wild type, the ethanol yield of ZAL69 and ZAL808 were improved by. 13.17% and 6.66 %, respectively, whereas glycerol yield decreased by 37.4 % and 41.7 %. Meanwhile, acetic acia yield and pyruvic acid yield aecreasea aramatlcally comparea to wild type. Our results indicate that FPS1 and GPD2 deletion of S. cerevisiae resulted in reduced glycerol yield and increased ethanol yield, but simultaneous overexpression of GLT1 and GLN1 infps1△gpd2△ mutant did not have a higher ethanol yield thanfps1△gpd2△ mutant.

Mutation of cytotoxin-associated gene A affects expressions of antioxidant proteins of Helicobacter pylori

AIM: To determine if disruption of the cagA gene of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) has an effect on the expression of other proteins at proteome level. METHODS: Construction of a cagA knock out mutant Hp27 _△cagA (cagA -) via homologous recombination with the wild-type strain Hp27 (cagA+) as a recipient was performed. The method of sonication-urea-CHAPS-DTT was employed to extract bacterial proteins from both strains. Soluble proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Images of 2-DE gels were digitalized and analyzed. Only spots that had a statistical signif icance in differential expression were selected and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionizationtime of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Biological information was used to search protein database and identify the biological function of proteins. RESULTS: The proteome expressions between wild-type strain and isogenic mutant with the cagA gene knocked-out were compared. Five protein spots with high abundance in bacteria proteins of wild-type strains, down-regulated or absently expressed in bacteria proteins of mutants, were identified and analyzed. From a quantitative point of view, the identified proteins are related to the cagA gene and important antioxidant proteins of H pylori , including alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (Ahp), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and modulator of drug activity (Mda66), respectively, suggesting that cagA is important to maintain the normal activity of antioxidative stress and ensure H pylori persistent colonization in the host. CONCLUSION: cagA gene is relevant to the expressions of antioxidant proteins of H pylori, which may be a novel mechanism involved in H pylori cagA pathogenesis.

CB1 receptor activation on VgluT2-expressing glutamatergic neurons underlies Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol(Δ9-THC)-induced aversive effects in mice

OBJECTIVE Cannabis can be rewarding or aversive.Cannabis reward is believed to be mediated by activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors(CB1 Rs) on GABAergic neurons that disinhibit dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area(VTA).However,little is known about the mechanisms underlying cannabis aversion in rodents.Our study aimed at dig the mechanisms underlying cannabis aversion.METHODS We first created CB1-floxed mice and then generated conditional CB1-knockout mice(VgluT2-CB1-/-) in glutamatergic neurons that express vesicular glutamate transporter 2(VgluT2).We then used immunohistochemistry and RNAscope in situ hybridization assays to examine whether CB1 Rs are expressed in VTA GABAergic neurons and glutamatergic neurons.We also used Cre-dependent viral vector to express light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2 into VTA glutamatergic neurons.Next,conditioned place preference and intracranial self-stimulation(ICSS) maintained by optical activation of VTA glutamatergic neurons were employed to evaluate the effects of Δ9-THC on brain reward function.RESULTS CB1 Rs are found not only on VTA GABAergic neurons,but also on VTA glutamatergic neurons that express vesicular glutamate transporter 2(VgluT2).Photoactivation of VTA glutamatergic neurons produced robust intracranial self-stimulation(ICSS) behavior,which was dose-dependently blocked by DA receptor antagonists,but enhanced by cocaine.In contrast,Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol(Δ9-THC),the major psychoactive component of cannabis,produced dose-dependent conditioned place aversion and a reduction in the above optical ICSS in VgluT2-cre control mice,but not in VgluT2-CB1-/-mice.CONCLUSION Activation of CB1 Rs in VgluT2-expressing glutamate neurons produces aversive effects that might explain why cannabinoid is not rewarding in rodents and might also account for individual differences in the hedonic effects of cannabis in humans.

CRISPR/Cas: a Nobel Prize award-winning precise genome editing technology for gene therapy and crop improvement

Since it was first recognized in bacteria and archaea as a mechanism for innate viral immunity in the early 2010 s,clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)has rapidly been developed into a robust,multifunctional genome editing tool with many uses.Following the discovery of the initial CRISPR/Cas-based system,the technology has been advanced to facilitate a multitude of different functions.These include development as a base editor,prime editor,epigenetic editor,and CRISPR interference(CRISPRi)and CRISPR activator(CRISPRa)gene regulators.It can also be used for chromatin and RNA targeting and imaging.Its applications have proved revolutionary across numerous biological fields,especially in biomedical and agricultural improvement.As a diagnostic tool,CRISPR has been developed to aid the detection and screening of both human and plant diseases,and has even been applied during the current coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.CRISPR/Cas is also being trialed as a new form of gene therapy for treating various human diseases,including cancers,and has aided drug development.In terms of agricultural breeding,precise targeting of biological pathways via CRISPR/Cas has been key to regulating molecular biosynthesis and allowing modification of proteins,starch,oil,and other functional components for crop improvement.Adding to this,CRISPR/Cas has been shown capable of significantly enhancing both plant tolerance to environmental stresses and overall crop yield via the targeting of various agronomically important gene regulators.Looking to the future,increasing the efficiency and precision of CRISPR/Cas delivery systems and limiting off-target activity are two major challenges for wider application of the technology.This review provides an in-depth overview of current CRISPR development,including the advantages and disadvantages of the technology,recent applications,and future considerations.

Targeted Mutagenesis in Zea mays Using TALENs and the CRISPR/Cas System

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases （TALENs） and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats （CRISPR）/ CRISPR-associated （Cas） systems have emerged as powerful tools for genome editing in a variety of species. Here, we report, for the first time, targeted mutagenesis in Zea mays using TALENs and the CRISPR/Cas system. We designed five TALENs targeting 4 genes, namely ZmPDS, ZmlPKIA, ZmlPK, ZmMRP4, and obtained targeting efficiencies of up to 23.1% in protoplasts, and about 13.3% to 39.1% of the transgenic plants were somatic mutations. Also, we constructed two gRNAs targeting the ZmlPK gene in maize protoplasts, at frequencies of 16.4% and 19.1%, respectively. In addition, the CRISPR/Cas system induced targeted mutations in Z. mays protoplasts with efficiencies （13.1%） similar to those obtained with TALENs （9.1%）. Our results show that both TALENs and the CRISPR/Cas system can be used for genome modification in maize.

p53-dependent and independent apoptosis induced by ionizing radiation in murine bone marrow cells

APOPTOSIS or programmed cell death is a model of cell death, along with typical morphological and biochemical changes. The cell death, occurring during embryonic development, T and B cell maturation and endocrine-induced atrophy, is a physiological apoptosis which controls the amount of cells in the body. Apoptosis can also be induced by various factors, such as ionizing radiation and anti-tumour agents which damage DNA, and has been proposed to be a consequence of the induced expression of some tumour-related genes or increase of the proteins sta-

300 MeV质子同步加速器概念设计优化（英文）

目前处于设计阶段的哈尔滨工业大学空间辐照效应装置,其核心部件是由1台10 MeV的注入器、1台300MeV的同步加速器以及输运线构成的加速器装置。同步加速器中引出的质子束流被用于辐照研究。基于装置的概念设计,优化了其同步加速器部分的设计。设计了新的磁聚焦结构,优化了基于新的磁聚焦结构的多圈注入系统的凸轨变化模式,提高了注入效率。为了更好地优化引出束流的时间结构,慢引出系统采用了RF knock-out的方法。为了满足精准辐照的要求,研究了RF Kicker的频率调制,发现RF Kicker的双频调制能使得引出束流更均匀。

Design study for a 500 MeV proton synchrotron with CSNS linac as an injector

Using the China Spallation Neutron Source（CSNS） linac as the injector, a 500 MeV proton synchrotron is proposed for multidisciplinary applications, such as biology, material science and proton therapy. The synchrotron will deliver proton beam with energy from 80 MeV to 500 MeV. A compact lattice design has been worked out, and all the important beam dynamics issues have been investigated. The 80 MeV H-beam is stripped and injected into the synchrotron by using multi-turn injection. In order to continuously extraction the proton with small beam loss,an achromatic structure is proposed and a slow extraction method with RF knock-out is adopted and optimized.