A preliminary study on life history of marine red alga Stylonema alsidii(Zandardini)Drew f.ramosum Zheng et Li

Stylonema alsidii(Zandardini)Drew f.ramosum Zheng et Li is a common species in the genus Stylonema,but there are limited reports on morphological taxonomy and a lack of studies on life history and the regulation of early development.The early development,discoid formation,and erect thallus growth of Stylonema alsidii f.ramosum were observed under laboratory conditions.In addition,the influence of main environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity on its development was briefly studied,and various stages of its life history were observed.The result shows:(1)there are two reproductive modes:asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction;(2)the morphology of this species varies in different degrees under laboratory culture conditions;(3)sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction can coexist under suitable conditions.Five pathways of life history were inferred from experimental phenomena.Mature sporophytes form mature gametophytes by producing initially isolated or initially attached monospore,and mature gametophytes form mature sporophytes by fertilization of eggs and sperms.The sexual and asexual reproduction processes of Stylonema alsidii f.ramosum were reported for the first time,and this is also the first report on sexual reproduction in the genus Stylonema.

The life-history trait trade-offs mediated by reproduction and immunity in the brown planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens Stål

Reproduction and immune defense are costly functions,and they are expected to tradeoff with each other to drive evolution.The brown planthopper(BPH),Nilaparvata lugens Stål(Hemiptera,Delphacidae),is a global superpest that mostly damages rice crops.Yeast-like symbionts(YLS)exist in the abdominal fat body tissue and are tightly associated with the development,growth,and reproduction of BPH.Our previous research demonstrated that mating behavior promotes the release of YLS from the fat body into the hemolymph in the BPH,thereby triggering an immune response.Additionally,the fitness costs related to life-history traits of BPH(such as survival rate)have a strong dependence on the relative abundance of YLS.However,the possible relationship between reproduction and the immune response in BPH has not been identified.In this study,an omics-based approach was used to analyze the transcriptome of fat body tissues in mated and unmated BPH at 72 h post-eclosion,from which two antimicrobial peptide genes,NlDefensin A(NlDfA)and NlDefensin B(NlDfB),were selected since they were highly expressed in mated BPH.Subsequently,the full-length cDNA sequences of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes were cloned and analyzed.qPCR results showed up-regulation of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes in mated BPH when compared to unmated BPH.Spatial-temporal expression analysis indicated that the NlDfA and NlDfB genes were expressed in all tissues and developmental stages,and they were most highly expressed in the fat body at 24 h post-eclosion.Moreover,the symbionts in BPH were significantly inhibited by the in vitro expression of the NlDfA and NlDfB proteins.Furthermore,RNA interference(RNAi)-mediated suppression of NlDfA and NlDfB dramatically increased the relative abundance of YLS in the fat body,while YLS in the hemolymph decreased significantly.These BPHs also displayed some fitness disadvantages in survival,fecundity,hatchability,and possibly the vertical transmission of YLS from hemolymph to egg.Our results indicated that mating could heighten the immunity of BPH by up-regulating the expression of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes,which protect the host from pathogen challenges during reproduction.However,the reduced content of YLS may act as a fitness disadvantage in dictating the life-history traits of BPH.This work has significant theoretical and practical implications for the precise green control technology that involves crucial gene targeting,as well as for the“endosymbionts for pest control”strategy in insects.

Effects of Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharides on growth performance,intestinal barrier function and cecal microbiota in yellow-feathered broilers under heat stress

Background Global warming leading to heat stress(HS)is becoming a major challenge for broiler production.This study aimed to explore the protective effects of seaweed(Enteromorpha prolifera)polysaccharides(EPS)on the intestinal barrier function,microbial ecology,and performance of broilers under HS.A total of 144 yellow-feathered broilers(male,56 days old)with 682.59±7.38 g were randomly assigned to 3 groups:1)TN(thermal neutral zone,23.6±1.8℃),2)HS(heat stress,33.2±1.5℃ for 10 h/d),and 3)HSE(HS+0.1%EPS).Each group contained 6 replicates with 8 broilers per replicate.The study was conducted for 4 weeks;feed intake and body weights were measured at the end of weeks 2 and 4.At the end of the feeding trial,small intestine samples were collected for histomorphology,antioxidant,secretory immunoglobulin A(s Ig A)content,apoptosis,gene and protein expression analysis;cecal contents were also collected for microbiota analysis based on 16S r DNA sequencing.Results Dietary EPS promoted the average daily gain(ADG)of broilers during 3–4 weeks of HS(P<0.05).At the end of HS on broilers,the activity of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),glutathione S-transferase(GST),and the content of s Ig A in jejunum were improved by EPS supplementation(P<0.05).Besides,dietary EPS reduced the epithelial cell apoptosis of jejunum and ileum in heat-stressed broilers(P<0.05).Addition of EPS in HS group broilers'diet upregulated the relative m RNA expression of Occludin,ZO-1,γ-GCLc and IL-10 of the jejunum(P<0.05),whereas downregulated the relative m RNA expression of NF-κB p65,TNF-αand IL-1βof the jejunum(P<0.05).Dietary EPS increased the protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1,whereas it reduced the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and MLCK(P<0.01)and tended to decrease the protein expression of TNF-α(P=0.094)in heat-stressed broilers.Furthermore,the proportions of Bacteroides and Oscillospira among the three groups were positively associated with jejunal apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression(P<0.05)and negatively correlated with jejunal Occludin level(P<0.05).However,the proportions of Lactobacillus,Barnesiella,Subdoligranulum,Megasphaera,Collinsella,and Blautia among the three groups were positively related to ADG(P<0.05).Conclusions EPS can be used as a feed additive in yellow-feathered broilers.It effectively improves growth performance and alleviates HS-induced intestinal injury by relieving inflammatory damage and improving the tight junction proteins expression.These beneficial effects may be related to inhibiting NF-κB/MLCK signaling pathway activation and regulation of cecal microbiota.

Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Teaching Construction for Biochemistry Course in Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Biochemistry is a fundamental core course in disciplines such as agriculture,forestry,medicine,animal husbandry,veterinary medicine,and food science.By prioritizing"educating people"in the teaching process of this professional course,we can unearth diverse ideological and political elements related to agricultural production practices within the curriculum knowledge system and the forefront of discipline development.Exploring various teaching methods and utilizing diverse teaching tools are effective strategies to achieve ideological and political education that silently influences students in the field of biochemistry.The goal is to nurture students strong ideals and beliefs,fostering a deep connection to the sentiments of"agriculture,rural areas and farmers in a great nation."This approach aims to instill a sense of responsibility towards strengthening agriculture,shaping students into individuals from South China Agricultural University who possess lofty aspirations and the courage to shoulder responsibility in the new era.

4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) enhances drought tolerance of apple by regulating rhizosphere microbial diversity and root architecture

The dwarfing rootstocks-mediated high-density apple orchard is becoming the main practice management.Currently,dwarfing rootstocks are widely used worldwide,but their shallow root system and drought sensitivity necessitate high irrigation requirements.Here,the root transcriptome and metabolome of dwarfing(M9-T337,a drought-sensitive rootstock)and vigorous rootstocks(Malus sieversii,a drought-tolerant species,is commonly used as a rootstock)showed that a coumarin derivative,4-Methylumbelliferon(4-MU),was found to accumulate significantly in the roots of vigorous rootstock under drought condition.When exogenous 4-MU was applied to the roots of dwarfing rootstock under drought treatment,the plants displayed increased root biomass,higher root-to-shoot ratio,greater photosynthesis,and elevated water use efficiency.In addition,diversity and structure analysis of the rhizosphere soil microbial community demonstrated that 4-MU treatment increased the relative abundance of putatively beneficial bacteria and fungi.Of these,Pseudomonas,Bacillus,Streptomyces,and Chryseolinea bacterial strains and Acremonium,Trichoderma,and Phoma fungal strains known for root growth,or systemic resistance against drought stress,were significantly accumulated in the roots of dwarfing rootstock after 4-MU treatment under drought stress condition.Taken together,we identified a promising compound—4-MU,as a useful tool,to strengthen the drought tolerance of apple dwarfing rootstock.

Two-stage reproduction derived from cells of thallus could directly contribute to seeds for green tidal algal Enteromorpha(Ulva) prolifera/clathrata bloom,with disclosure of their ephemeral trait

Green tidal algal Enteromorpha species complete their life cycles by the isomorphic alternation of generations.The provenance of green tide caused by them in the western Yellow Sea has been disputed. The cell reproduction derived from adult thallus was observed on E. clathrata collected from Shantou City, Guangdong Province in this study. Subsequently, it further found that E. proliferia collected from Qingdao City, Shandong Province and Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, produced reproductive cells by somatic cells of its early infantile thallus or branch. The latter is functionally similar to that the seedlings of red alga Porphyra yezoensis produce the monospores, and could exquisitely explain the ephemeral or opportunistic trait and environmental adaptation ability of Enteromorpha species. Changes in growth conditions may induce the two types of cell reproduction.They contribute to the bloom, and can effectively reveal the seasonally occurring large-scale and on-year and offyear phenomenon. The latter may have played a decisive role in its formation. This paper analyses the legal status of the species name, the type of generation during bloom, ephemeral traits, the role of microscopic propagule, the area of origin, on-year and off-year phenomenon, early warning and prevention and control of the species, and so on. On this basis, further study on the influence of environmental factors on cell reproduction of early infantile thalli or branches will achieve a positive effect for early warning and prevention and control of the green tidal algal bloom.

The underlying mechanism of variety–water–nitrogen–stubble damage interactions on yield formation in ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting

Agronomic measures are the key to promote the sustainable development of ratoon rice by reducing the damage from mechanical crushing to the residual stubble of the main crop, thereby mitigating the impact on axillary bud sprouting and yield formation in ratoon rice. This study used widely recommended conventional rice Jiafuzhan and hybrid rice Yongyou 2640 as the test materials to conduct a four-factor block design field experiment in a greenhouse of the experimental farm of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, China from 2018 to 2019.The treatments included fertilization and no fertilization, alternate wetting and drying irrigation and continuous water flooding irrigation, and plots with and without artificial crushing damage on the rice stubble. At the same time, a 13C stable isotope in-situ detection technology was used to fertilize the pot experiment. The results showed significant interactions among varieties, water management, nitrogen application and stubble status.Relative to the long-term water flooding treatment, the treatment with sequential application of nitrogen fertilizer coupled with moderate field drought for root-vigor and tiller promotion before and after harvesting of the main crop, significantly improved the effective tillers from low position nodes. This in turn increased the effective panicles per plant and grains per panicle by reducing the influence of artificial crushing damage on rice stubble and achieving a high yield of the regenerated rice. Furthermore, the partitioning of 13C assimilates to the residual stubble and its axillary buds were significantly improved at the mature stage of the main crop, while the translocation rate to roots and rhizosphere soil was reduced at the later growth stage of ratooning season rice. This was triggered by the metabolism of hormones and polyamines at the stem base regulated by the interaction of water and fertilizer at this time. We therefore suggest that to achieve a high yield of ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting, the timely application of nitrogen fertilizer is fundamental,coupled with moderate field drying for root-vigor preservation and tiller promotion before and after the mechanical harvesting of the main crop.

Variation in reproductive life-history traits of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)along the urbanization gradient in Hangzhou,China

Urbanization brings new selection pressures to wildlife living in cities,and changes in the life-history traits of urban species can reflect their responses to such pressures.To date,most of the studies investigating the impacts of urbanization on avian life-history traits are conducted in Europe and North America,while such studies are often lacking in quickly developing countries in Asia(e.g.,China).In this study,we examined the variations in reproductive life-history traits of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)along the urbanization gradient in Hangzhou,China.We detected 234 natural nests of Chinese Bulbuls and continuously monitored them in two continuous breeding seasons from 2012 to 2013.We collected data on seven life-history traits(laying date,incubation period,nestling period,clutch size,egg volume,hatching success rate,and fledging success rate).We used infrared cameras to record the number of feedings per hour as the measure of food resources for the nestlings.We measured nest predation pressure by monitoring 148 natural breeding nests during breeding seasons and 54 artificial nests immediately after breeding seasons.We then calculated the urbanization synthetic index(USI)as a measure of the level of urbanization and examined its relationship with the seven life-history traits.We found that Chinese Bulbuls laid eggs significantly earlier with increasing USI.However,the other six life-history traits did not vary significantly with the USI.Moreover,the feeding frequency of chicks increased significantly with the USI,but the nest predation pressure of Chinese Bulbuls decreased significantly with the USI.Increased food resources and reduced nest predation pressure in cities may lead to earlier laying date of Chinese Bulbuls.Further study should test whether the earlier laying date of Chinese Bulbuls is the result of phenotypic plasticity or genetic change.

Convenient design of anti-wetting nano-Al/WO_(3)metastable intermolecular composites(MICs)with an enhanced exothermic life-span

For solving the dilemma of the short exothermic life-span of WO_(3)based metastable interstitial composites(MICs)with extensive application prospect,this paper has firstly designed the promising antiwetting Al/WO_(3)MICs via electrophoresis assembly of nano-Al and WO_(3)particles fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis method,followed by the subsequent fluorination treatment.A combination of X ray diffraction(XRD),field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX),and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)techniques were utilized in order to characterize the crystal structure,microstructure,and elemental composition distribution of target films after different natural exposure tests.The product with uniform distribution and high purity possesses a high contact angle of~170°and a minute sliding angle of~1°,and displays the outstanding anti-wetting property using droplets with different surface tensions.It also shows great moisture stability in high relative-humidity circumstances after one year of the natural exposure experiment.Notably,the heat output of a fresh sample can reach up to 2.3 kJ/g and retain 96%after the whole exposure test,showing outstanding thermo-stability for at least one year.This work further proposed the mechanism of antiwetting Al/WO_(3)MICs considering the variation tendency of their DSC curve,providing a valuable theoretical reference for designing other self-protected MICs with a long exothermic life-span applied in wide fields of national defense,military industry,etc.

Integrative proteomic-transcriptomic analysis revealed the lifestyles of Lactobacillus paracasei H4-11 and Kluyveromyces marxianus L1-1 under co-cultivation conditions

Compared with the rice-acid soup inoculated with single starter,the synergistically intensifi ed rice-acid soup inoculated with Lactobacillus paracasei H4-11(L.paracasei H4-11)and Kluyveromyces marxianus L1-1(K.marxianus L1-1)contained more fl avor compounds.Organic acids mainly included L-lactic acid and the main volatile fl avor component was ethyl acetate.Moreover,the signal intensity of astringency and bitterness and the total concentration of volatile sulfur compounds were reduced.The combined analysis results of RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)technology and 4D label-free quantitative(4D LFQ)proteomics explained the fl avor formation pathways in rice-acid soup inoculated with L.paracasei H4-11 and K.marxianus L1-1.In L.paracasei H4-11,L-lactate dehydrogenase,phosphoglucomutase,acetate kinase,alcohol dehydrogenase and acetyl-CoA were up-regulated and D-lactate dehydrogenase and N-Acetyltransferase were down-regulated.In K.marxianus L1-1,Acetyl-CoA,acetaldehyde dehydrogenase,acyl-coenzyme A,N-acetyltransferase,and L-lactate dehydrogenase were up-regulated and hexokinase,alcohol dehydrogenase,and alcohol O-acetyltransferase were down-regulated.The above up-regulation and down-regulation synergistically promoted the formation of characteristic fl avor compounds(mainly L-lactic acid and ethyl acetate).Enzyme-linked immunoassay(ELISA)and parallel reaction monitoring(PRM)quantitative analysis respectively verifi ed that 5 key metabolic enzymes and 27 proteins in L.paracasei H4-11 and K.marxianus L1-1 were associated with the characteristic fl avor of rice-acid soup,as confi rmed by the quantitative results of 4D LFQ.

Research and Practice on the Training Mode of Innovative and Entrepreneurial Talents in Colleges and Universities:A Case Study of Academic Association of"Federation of Life Science Research and Innovation"

Taking the academic association of the Federation of Life Science Research and Innovation of the College of Life Science and Biotechnology of Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University as the research platform,it is necessary to organically combine personalized education with the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial ability.On the basis of unified teaching ideas,we should pay attention to the individual differences of educational objects,eliminate the disadvantages of traditional education,and break the conventional"spoon-feeding"teaching mode.It is necessary to shift from only paying attention to one-way indoctrination to paying attention to the cultivation of students'innovative quality,and to enhance students'interest in scientific research and practical ability of innovation and entrepreneurship through the rich scientific research activities of academic associations.

Endochondral ossification of hindlimbs in embryonic development of Japanese Quail(Coturnix japonica)

The endochondral ossification of hindlimb is essential to a bird’s ability to stand,walk and fly.Most hindlimb is ossified in the embryos before hatching in precocial birds.However,the molecular mechanisms of hindlimb ossification in birds is still unclear.Therefore,we tried to examine the process of hindlimb ossification and its molecular regulation by using an animal model—Japanese Quail(Coturnix japonica).We selected four critical stages(Embryo Day:E6,E8,E12 and E16) of skeletal development of embryonic quails for hindlimb skeleton staining to show the process of endochondral ossification and to examine the molecular regulation of endochondral osteogenesis by RNA-Seq analysis.The results showed that ossification became increased with embryonic development and most hindlimb was ossified before hatching.RNA-Seq analysis revealed that various signaling pathways were involved with endochondral ossification with thyroid hormone signaling and WNT signaling pathway particularly enriched.Moreover,the expression levels of 42 genes were continuously upregulated and 14 genes were continuously downregulated from E6 to E16.The present study might provide new insights into complex molecular mechanisms in regulation of endochondral ossification.

Isolation,identification,and virulence gene analysis of pathogenic Aeromonas dhakensis in Macrobrachium rosenbergii and histopathological observation

To identify the cause of mass mortality of adult Macrobrachium rosenbergii in a farm in Gaoyou City,Jiangsu Province,China,a dominant strain named DKQ-1 was isolated from the hepatopancreas of dying M.rosenbergii and identified as Aeromonas dhakensis by purification culture,biochemical characterization,and 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis.The results of the challenge test revealed that the strain was highly pathogenic and the 50%lethal dose(LD_(50))in 72 h to M.rosenbergii was 1.54×10^(5)CFU/mL.The amplification results of virulence genes show that strain DKQ-1 carried 9 virulence genes,including ascV,aexT,aer,act,lip,ompAI,gcaT,acg,and exu,supporting the strong virulence of strain DKQ-1 to M.rosenbergii.Histopathological observation of the hepatopancreas,gills,and intestines indicated that DKQ-1 injection into M.rosenbergii could cause serious tissue damage,which further supported the strong virulence of this strain.In addition,a drug susceptibility test revealed that strain DKQ-1 was sensitive to 16 kinds of antibiotics,resistant to 9 kinds of antibiotics,and had intermediate resistance to spectinomycin and kanamycin.This study is the first report of A.dhakensis isolated from M.rosenbergii and provided a reference for the pathogen identification of bacterial diseases in M.rosenbergii,and for the prevention and treatment caused by A.dhakensis.

Molecular mechanisms of stress resistance in sorghum: Implications for crop improvement strategies

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salt, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal pollution, are the main environmental factors that limit crop growth and yield. Sorghum, a C4 grass plant with high photosynthetic efficiency, can grow in adverse environmental conditions due to its excellent stress resistance characteristics. Therefore, unraveling the stress-resistance mechanism of sorghum could provide a theoretical basis for developing and cultivating various stress-resistant crops. This understanding could also help to create a conducive environment for using marginal soil in agriculture and ensuring food security. In this review, we discuss the adaptation mechanisms of sorghum under drought, salinity, temperature, and soil heavy metal stresses, the specific response to stress, the screening of sorghum-resistant germplasm, and the identification and functional analysis of the relevant genes and quantitative trait loci(QTL). In addition, we discuss the application potential of different stress-tolerant sorghum germplasms reported to date and emphasize the feasibility and potential use in developing and promoting highly stress-tolerant sorghum in marginal soil.

Density functional theory study of B- and Si-doped carbons and their adsorption interactions with sulfur compounds

Understanding the adsorption interactions between carbon materials and sulfur compounds has far-reaching impacts,in addition to their well-known important role in energy storage and conversion,such as lithium-ion batteries.In this paper,properties of intrinsic B or Si single-atom doped,and B-Si codoped graphene(GR)and graphdiyne(GDY)were investigated by using density functional theory-based calculations,in which the optimal doping configurations were explored for potential applications in adsorbing sulfur compounds.Results showed that both B or Si single-atom doping and B-Si codoping could substantially enhance the electron transport properties of GR and GDY,improving their surface activity.Notably,B and Si atoms displayed synergistic effects for the codoped configurations,where B-Si codoped GR/GDY exhibited much better performance in the adsorption of sulfurcontaining chemicals than single-atom doped systems.In addition,results demonstrated that,after B-Si codoping,the adsorption energy and charge transfer amounts of GDY with sulfur compounds were much larger than those of GR,indicating that B-Si codoped GDY might be a favorable material for more effectively interacting with sulfur reagents.

Grain yield and N uptake of maize in response to increased plant density under reduced water and nitrogen supply conditions

The development of modern agriculture requires the reduction of water and chemical N fertilizer inputs.Increasing the planting density can maintain higher yields,but also consumes more of these restrictive resources.However,whether an increased maize density can compensate for the negative effects of reduced water and N supply on grain yield and N uptake in the arid irrigated areas remains unknown.This study is part of a long-term positioning trial that started in 2016.A split-split plot field experiment of maize was implemented in the arid irrigated area of northwestern China in 2020 to 2021.The treatments included two irrigation levels:local conventional irrigation reduced by 20%(W1,3,240 m^(3)ha^(-1))and local conventional irrigation(W2,4,050 m^(3)ha^(-1));two N application rates:local conventional N reduced by 25%(N1,270 kg ha^(-1))and local conventional N(360 kg ha^(-1));and three planting densities:local conventional density(D1,75,000 plants ha^(-1)),density increased by 30%(D2,97,500 plants ha-1),and density increased by 60%(D3,120,000 plants ha^(-1)).Our results showed that the grain yield and aboveground N accumulation of maize were lower under the reduced water and N inputs,but increasing the maize density by 30% can compensate for the reductions of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation caused by the reduced water and N supply.When water was reduced while the N application rate remained unchanged,increasing the planting density by 30% enhanced grain yield by 13.9% and aboveground N accumulation by 15.3%.Under reduced water and N inputs,increasing the maize density by 30% enhanced N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity,and it also compensated for the N harvest index and N metabolic related enzyme activities.Compared with W2N2D1,the N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity increased by 28.6 and 17.6%under W1N1D2.W1N2D2 had 8.4% higher N uptake efficiency and 13.9% higher N partial factor productivity than W2N2D1.W1N2D2 improved urease activity and nitrate reductase activity by 5.4% at the R2(blister)stage and 19.6% at the V6(6th leaf)stage,and increased net income and the benefit:cost ratio by 22.1 and 16.7%,respectively.W1N1D2 and W1N2D2 reduced the nitrate nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen contents at the R6 stage in the 40-100 cm soil layer,compared with W2N2D1.In summary,increasing the planting density by 30% can compensate for the loss of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation under reduced water and N inputs.Meanwhile,increasing the maize density by 30% improved grain yield and aboveground N accumulation when water was reduced by 20% while the N application rate remained constant in arid irrigation areas.

Mechanism of action of cordycepin in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulation of the Hippo signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the common most malignant tumors.This study aimed to determine the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of cordycepin and elucidate its mechanism of action.The results of in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that cordycepin inhibited proliferation and migration in HepG-2 cells and inhibited the growth of HepG-2 xenograft-bearing nude mice by inducing apoptosis.Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed a total of 403 differential genes,which revealed that cordycepin may play an anti-HCC role by regulating Hippo signaling pathway.The regulatory effects of cordycepin on the Hippo signaling pathway was further investigated using a YAP1 inhibitor.The results demonstrated that cordycepin upregulated the expression of MST1 and LAST1,and subsequently inhibited YAP1,which activated the Hippo signaling pathway.This in turn downregulated the expression of GBP3 and ETV5,and subsequently inhibited cell proliferation and migration.Additionally,YAP1 regulated the expression of Bax and Bcl-2,regulated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway,and induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of the caspase-3 protein.In summary,this study reveals that cordycepin exerts its anti-hepatocarcinoma effect through regulating Hippo signaling pathway,and GBP3 and ETV5 may be potential therapeutic targets for hepatocarcinoma.

PbGIF1 promoting cell-proliferation in pear fruit is transcriptionally activated by Pb RR1

As a cell proliferation regulator involved in wide biological processes in plants,GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR(GIF)controls different tissues development.However,whether GIF participates in fruit development remains unclear.According to transcriptome data,we identified PbGIF1was highly expressed during fruit development in cytokinins induced parthenocarpy pear.In the present study,the biofunction of PbGIF1 was initially verified.Overexpression of PbGIF1 promoted fruit size of transgenic tomato.The size of flesh fruit was not affected by cell expansion but the cell proliferation was promoted by overexpressing Pb GIF1.The accelerated cell proliferation process was also observed in PbGIF1-overexpressed transgenic pear fruit calli.The transcriptional regulation of cytokinins on PbGIF1 was further confirmed by exogenous CPPU treatments in pear fruitlets.To investigate the underlying mechanism,the cytokinins-responded factor,PbRR1,was further focused on.The results of Yeast-one-hybrid assay suggested that PbRR1 can bind to the promoter sequence of PbGIF1.The transcriptional activation of PbRR1 on PbGIF1 was also confirmed by Dual-Luciferase assays.Taken together,the results showed that cytokinins control pear fruit development via the transcriptional activation of PbGIF1 by PbRR1.

Mitochondrial genomes of Tapes dorsatus and Cardita variegata:insights into Heteroconchia phylogeny

Heteroconchia,a widespread and abundant aquatic invertebrate,is an important clade of bivalve mollusks.The relationship between the three branches of Heteroconchia,Palaeoheterodonta,Archiheterodonta,and Euheterodonta has become a main controversy in molecular studies of the relationships between bivalves.In the present study,we assembled the complete mitochondrial genomes of Tapes dorsatus(Veneridae)and Cardita variegata(Carditidae)using high-throughput sequencing.C.variegata is the first mitochondrial genome belonging to the family Carditidae to be reported.We used 12 protein coding genes(excluding atp8)from the complete mitochondrial genomes of 146 species to recover the internal relationships of Heteroconchia.Our results support the traditional view of early branching of Palaeoheterodonta and the recovery of the monophyly of Palaeoheterodonta,Anomalodesmata,Imparidentia.Rearrangement analysis show that gene arrangement within Venerida was highly variable.Time-calibrated phylogenetic studies based on a relaxed molecular clock model suggested that Veneridae originated approximately 337.62 million years ago(Ma)and split into two major clades,whereas Carditidae originated approximately 510.09 Ma.Our results provide evidence of the internal relationships of Heteroconchia.

The autophagy protein Atg9 functions in glia and contributes to parkinsonian symptoms in a Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor deficits,dopaminergic neuron loss,and brain accumulation ofα-synuclein aggregates called Lewy bodies.Dysfunction in protein degradation pathways,such as autophagy,has been demonstrated in neurons as a critical mechanism for eliminating protein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease.However,it is less well understood how protein aggregates are eliminated in glia,the other cell type in the brain.In the present study,we show that autophagy-related gene 9(Atg9),the only transmembrane protein in the autophagy machinery,is highly expressed in Drosophila glia from adult brain.Results from immunostaining and live cell imaging analysis reveal that a portion of Atg9 localizes to the trans-Golgi network,autophagosomes,and lysosomes in glia.Atg9 is persistently in contact with these organelles.Lacking glial atg9 reduces the number of omegasomes and autophagosomes,and impairs autophagic substrate degradation.This suggests that glial Atg9 participates in the early steps of autophagy,and hence the control of autophagic degradation.Importantly,loss of glial atg9 induces parkinsonian symptoms in Drosophila including progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons,locomotion deficits,and glial activation.Our findings identify a functional role of Atg9 in glial autophagy and establish a potential link between glial autophagy and Parkinson’s disease.These results may provide new insights on the underlying mechanism of Parkinson’s disease.