DWARF TILLER1 regulates apical-basal pattern formation and proper orientation of rice embryos.

Body axis establishment is one of the earliest patterning events in plant embryogenesis. Asymmetric zygote division is critical for apical-basal axis formation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, how the orientation of the cell division plane is regulated and its relation to apical-basal axis establishment and proper position of embryos in grasses remain poorly understood. By characterizing mutants of 3 rice (Oryza sativa) WUSCHEL HOMEOBOX9 (WOX9) genes, whose paralogs in Arabidopsis play essential roles in zygotic asymmetric cell division and cell fate determination, we found 2 kinds of independent embryonic defects: topsy-turvy embryos, in which apical-basal axis twists from being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seed to being perpendicular; and organ-less embryos. In contrast to their Arabidopsis orthologs, OsWOX9s displayed dynamic distribution during embryo development. Both DWT1/OsWOX9A and DWL2/WOX9C play major roles in the apical-basal axis formation and initiation of stem cells. In addition, DWT1 has a distinct function in regulating the first few embryonic cell divisions to ensure the correct orientation of the embryo in the ovary. In summary, DWT1 acts in 2 steps during rice embryo pattern formation: the initial zygotic division, and with DWL2 to establish the main body axes and stem cell fate 2 to 3 d after pollination.

MYB transcription factors encoded by diversified tandem gene clusters cause varied Morella rubra fruit color.

Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra) is a fruit tree with a remarkable variation in fruit color, ranging from white to dark red as determined by anthocyanin content. In dark red "Biqi" (BQ), red "Dongkui" (DK), pink "Fenhong" (FH), and white "Shuijing" (SJ), we identified an anthocyanin-related MYB transcription factor-encoding gene cluster of four members, i.e. MrMYB1.1, MrMYB1.2, MrMYB1.3, and MrMYB2. Collinear analysis revealed that the MYB tandem cluster may have occurred in a highly conserved region of many eudicot genomes. Two alleles of MrMYB1.1 were observed; MrMYB1.1-1 (MrMYB1.1n) was a full-length allele and homozygous in "BQ", MrMYB1.1-2 (MrMYB1.1d) was a nonfunctional allele with a single base deletion and homozygous in "SJ", and MrMYB1.1n/MrMYB1.1d were heterozygous in "DK" and "FH". In these four cultivars, expression of MrMYB1.1, MrMYB1.2, and MrMYB2 was enhanced during ripening. Both alleles were equally expressed in MrMYB1.1n/MrMYB1.1d heterozygous cultivars as revealed by a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker. Expression of MrMYB1.3 was restricted to some dark red cultivars only. Functional characterization revealed that MrMYB1.1n and MrMYB1.3 can induce anthocyanin accumulation while MrMYB1.1d, MrMYB1.2, and MrMYB2 cannot. DNA-protein interaction assays indicated that MrMYB1.1n and MrMYB1.3 can directly bind to and activate the promoters of anthocyanin-related genes via interaction with a MYC-like basic helix-loop-helix protein MrbHLH1. We concluded that the specific genotype of MrMYB1.1 alleles, as well as the exclusive expression of MrMYB1.3 in some dark red cultivars, contributes to fruit color variation. The study provides insights into the mechanisms for regulation of plant anthocyanin accumulation by MYB tandem clusters.

H3K27 methylation regulates the fate of two cell lineages in male gametophytes.

During angiosperm male gametogenesis, microspores divide to produce a vegetative cell (VC) and a male germline (MG), each with distinct cell fates. The mechanism underlying determination of the MG cell/VC fate remains an important area of research, with many unanswered questions. Here, we report that H3K27me3 is essential for VC fate commitment in male Arabidopsis thaliana gametophytes; H3K27me3 erasure contributes to MG cell fate initiation. VC-targeted H3K27me3 erasure disturbed VC development and shifted the VC fate toward a gamete destination, which suggests that MG cells require H3K27me3 erasure to trigger gamete cell fate. Multi-omics and cytological analyses confirmed the occurrence of extensive cell identity transition due to H3K27me3 erasure. Therefore, we experimentally confirmed that MG cell/VC fate is epigenetically regulated. H3K27 methylation plays a critical role in guiding MG cell/VC fate determination for pollen fertility in Arabidopsis. Our work also provides evidence for two previous hypotheses: the germline cell fate is specified by the differential distribution of unknown determinants and VC maintains the default microspore program (i.e. the H3K27me3 setting) while MG requires reprogramming.

Association between prenatal exposure to alkylphenols and intelligence quotient among preschool children: sex-specific effects.

BACKGROUND: While prenatal exposure to alkylphenols (APs) has been demonstrated to be associated with neurodevelopmental impairments in animals, the evidence from epidemiological studies remains limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the link between AP exposure during pregnancy and the intelligence quotient (IQ) of preschool children. METHODS: A total of 221 mother-child pairs from the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort were recruited. Nonylphenol (NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-T-OP), 4-n-nonylphenol (4-N-NP), and 4-n-octylphenol were measured in maternal serum in early pregnancy. Childhood IQ was evaluated by the Fourth Edition of Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of the Intelligence at 3 to 6 years of age. The impact of APs on childhood IQ were evaluated by generalized linear models (GLMs), restricted cubic spline (RCS), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS: In GLMs, prenatal exposure to NP and the second tertile of 4-T-OP exhibited an inverse association with full-scale IQ (FSIQ) (ß = -2.38; 95% CI: -4.59, -0.16) and working memory index (WMI) (ß = -5.24; 95% CI: -9.58, -0.89), respectively. Prenatal exposure to the third tertile of 4-N-NP showed a positive association with the fluid reasoning index (ß = 4.95; 95% CI: 1.14, 8.77) in total children, as well as in girls when stratified by sex. A U-shaped relationship between maternal 4-T-OP and WMI was noted in total children and girls by RCS (all P nonlinear < 0.05). The combined effect primarily driven by NP, of maternal AP mixtures at concentrations above the 50th percentile exhibited an inverse trend on FSIQ in total children and girls in BKMR. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to various APs affects IQ in preschool children, and there may be nonmonotonic and sex-specific effects. Further investigation across the population is required to elucidate the potential neurotoxic effects of APs.

Effects of Antarctic Krill Meal in Diet on Reproductive Performance and Embryo Quality of Eriocheir sinensis.

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of dietary Antarctic krill meal on the reproductive performance and embryo quality of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Three diets were formulated, incorporating varying levels of Antarctic krill meal at 0% (Diet K0), 10% (Diet K10), and 20% (Diet K20), with a control group fed razor clam Sinonovacula constricta. Each diet was randomly assigned to three replicate tanks, each stocked with 5 males and 10 females. Male and female weights were 145.38 ± 8.01 and 102.57 ± 9.73 g, respectively. The results revealed no significant differences in weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and survival rate. However, the hepatopancreatic weight and hepatopancreas index of female crabs in each group decreased, while gonadal weight and gonadosomatic index increased significantly after 60 days, with Diet K20 showing the highest values. Egg production and fecundity of female crabs reached their peak in Diet K20, with no significant differences in reproductive indices among all groups. The phospholipid content in Diet K20 was significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Cholesterol contents in Diet K0 and the control group were significantly higher than in Diet K10 and K20 (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in egg diameter, egg weight, moisture, crude protein, and crude fat between the groups. The content of C20 : 2 and C20 : 4n6 was highest in Diet K0, with a significant difference compared to Diet K10 (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the total content of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids among all groups. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that the optimal level of Antarctic krill meal in diets is 20%.

Factors associated with nurses' attitudes for providing oral care in geriatric care facilities: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The world's population is getting older. This issue is accompanied by a rise in the number of older people suffering from dementia and disability, for whom oral hygiene care is challenging. Nurses' attitudes toward providing oral care (POC) are critical for the elderly, while few studies have investigated the determinant factors of nurses' attitudes by identifying the current work pressure, resilience and self-efficacy in geriatric care facilities (GCFs). It is of great significance to explore the nurses' attitudes toward POC and associated influencing factors related to psychological aspects including resilience, self-efficacy, and stress from the workplace. METHODS: Attitudes for Providing Mouth Care (A-PMC) in Chinese version were used in this cross-sectional study with 160 nurses in 2 GCFs. Data were collected using online questionnaires and analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. Statistically significant values were considered at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 160 nurses participated in this study, with an average age of 32.86 ± 7.43. The mean score for the A-PMC was 2.81 ± 0.47. The score of A-PMC was negatively correlated with work pressure (r=-0.332, p < 0.01), and positively correlated with resilience (r = 0.735, p < 0.01) and self-efficacy (r = 0.425, p < 0.01) respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses identified that the potential influencing factors of A-PMC were education background, work hours every shift, self-efficacy, work pressure and resilience. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate nurses' attitudes regarding PMC were at a low level, which is influenced by many factors. To improve nurses' attitudes toward PMC and the oral hygiene (OH) of the elderly in GCFs, it is necessary to increase nurses' education and training, establish a reasonable and effective incentive mechanism to improve nurses' work motivation and other intervention measures to reduce work pressure.

Lansoprazole promotes cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via enhancing tubular necroptosis.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the main obstacle that limits the use of cisplatin in cancer treatment. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the most commonly used class of medications for gastrointestinal complications in cancer patients, have been reported to cause adverse renal events. However, the effect of PPIs on cisplatin-induced AKI remains unclear. Herein, the effect and mechanism of lansoprazole (LPZ), one of the most frequently prescribed PPIs, on cisplatin-induced AKI were investigated in vivo and in vitro. C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cisplatin (18 mg/kg) to induce AKI, and LPZ (12.5 or 25 mg/kg) was administered 2 hours prior to cisplatin administration and then once daily for another 2 days via i.p. injection. The results showed that LPZ significantly aggravated the tubular damage and further increased the elevated levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen induced by cisplatin. However, LPZ did not enhance cisplatin-induced tubular apoptosis, as evidenced by a lack of significant change in mRNA and protein expression of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and TUNEL staining. Notably, LPZ increased the number of necrotic renal tubular cells compared to that by cisplatin treatment alone, which was further confirmed by the elevated necroptosis-associated protein expression of RIPK1, p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL. Furthermore, LPZ deteriorated cisplatin-induced inflammation, as revealed by the increased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors including, NLRP3, IL-1ß, TNF-α and caspase 1, as well as neutrophil infiltration. Consistently, in in vitro study, LPZ increased HK-2 cell death and enhanced inflammation, compared with cisplatin treatment alone. Collectively, our results demonstrate that LPZ aggravates cisplatin-induced AKI, and necroptosis may be involved in the exacerbation of kidney damage.

The Parkinson's disease-associated mutation N1437H impairs conformational dynamics in the G domain of LRRK2.

Parkinson disease-associated mutations within the GTPase domain Ras of complex proteins (ROC) of leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) result in an abnormal over-activation of its kinase domain. However, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Recent study has shown that LRRK2 G-domain cycles between monomeric and dimeric conformations upon binding to GTP or guanosine diphosphate, and that the Parkinson's disease (PD)-associated R1441C/G/H mutations impair the G-domain monomer-dimer dynamics and trap the G-domain in a constitutive monomeric conformation. That led us to question whether other disease-associated mutations in G-domain would also affect its conformation. Here, we report that another PD-associated N1437H mutation also impairs its monomer-dimer conformational dynamics and GTPase activity. In contrast with mutations at R1441, ROCN1437H was found to be locked in a stable dimeric conformation in solution and its GTPase activity was ∼4-fold lower than that of the wild-type. Furthermore, the N1437H mutation reduced the GTP binding affinity by ∼2.5-fold when compared with other pathogenic G-domain mutations. Moreover, ROCN1437H was found to have a slower GTP dissociation rate, indicating that N1437H might interrupt the nucleotide exchange cycle. Taken together, our data support that conformational dynamics is important for LRRK2 GTPase activity and that the N1437H mutation impairs GTPase activity by locking the ROC domain in a persistently dimeric state.-Huang, X., Wu, C., Park, Y., Long, X., Hoang, Q. Q., Liao, J. The Parkinson's disease-associated mutation N1437H impairs conformational dynamics in the G domain of LRRK2.

Clinical efficacy and safety of aidi injection combination with vinorelbine and cisplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 54 randomized controlled trials.

The Aidi injection contains multiple active ingredients, including astragaloside (Re, Rb1, and Rg1), ginsenoside, cantharidin, elentheroside E, and syringin, and it is administered with vinorelbine and cisplatin (NP) to treat non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of the Aidi injection with NP, and the optimal threshold and treatment regimen to produce the desired responses. We collected all studies regarding the Aidi injection with NP for NSCLC from Chinese and English databases (up to April 2019). Risk of methodological bias was evaluated for each study. Data for analysis were extracted using a standard data extraction form. Evidence quality was assessed following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. We included 54 trials containing 4,053 patients for analysis. Combining the Aidi injection with NP significantly increased the objective response rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.32; confidence interval [CI], 1.23, 1.42), disease control rate (OR, 1.14; CI, 1.11, 1.18), and quality of life (OR, 1.80; CI, 1.61, 1.98), with decreased risks of myelosuppression, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, gastrointestinal reaction, and liver dysfunction. For patients with a Karnofsky Performance Status score of ≥60, the Aidi injection (50 mL/day, two weeks/cycle, with two to three cycles) treatment with vinorelbine (25 mg/m2) and cisplatin (30-35 mg/m2 or 40-50 mg/m2) might be the optimal regimen for producing the desired tumor response and achieving a good safety level. Most results were robust, and their quality was moderate. The results suggest that administration of the Aidi injection and concomitant NP is beneficial to NSCLC, and provide evidence for the optimal threshold and treatment regimen that may improve tumor response with a good safety level.

Transcriptome and hormone analyses provide insights into hormonal regulation in strawberry ripening.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The possible molecular mechanisms regulating strawberry fruit ripening were revealed by plant hormone quantification, exogenous hormone application, and RNA-sequencing. Fruit ripening involves a complex interplay among plant hormones. Strawberry is a model for studies on non-climacteric fruit ripening. However, the knowledge on how plant hormones are involved in strawberry ripening is still limited. To understand hormonal actions in the ripening process, we performed genome-wide transcriptome and hormonal analysis for the five major hormones (abscisic acid and catabolites, auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, and ethylene) in achenes and receptacles (flesh) at different ripening stages of the woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca. Our results demonstrate that the pre-turning stage (a stage with white flesh and red achenes defined in this study) is the transition stage from immature to ripe fruits. The combinatorial analyses of hormone content, transcriptome data, and exogenous hormone treatment indicate that auxin is synthesized predominantly in achenes, while abscisic acid (ABA), bioactive free base cytokinins, gibberellins, and ethylene are mainly produced in receptacles. Furthermore, gibberellin may delay ripening, while ethylene and cytokinin are likely involved at later stages of the ripening process. Our results also provide additional evidence that ABA promotes ripening, while auxin delays it. Although our hormone analysis demonstrates that the total auxin in receptacles remains relatively low and unchanged during ripening, our experimental evidence further indicates that ABA likely enhances expression of the endoplasmic reticulum-localized auxin efflux carrier PIN-LIKES, which may subsequently reduce the auxin level in nucleus. This study provides a global picture for hormonal regulation of non-climacteric strawberry fruit ripening and also evidence for a possible mechanism of ABA and auxin interaction in the ripening process.

Colorimetric determination of lead(II) or mercury(II) based on target induced switching of the enzyme-like activity of metallothionein-stabilized copper nanoclusters.

It is shown that metallothionein-stabilized copper nanoclusters (MT-CuNCs) display catalase-like activity. In the presence of either lead(II) or mercury(II), the catalase-like activity is converted to a peroxidase-like activity. On addition of Pb(II) or Hg(II), the inhibitory effect of MT-CuNCs on the chromogenic reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) with H2O2 is weakened. On the other hand, the catalytic effect of the nanoclusters on the chromogenic reaction is increased. The system MT-CuNCs-Pb(II)/Hg(II) exhibits high affinity for the substrates TMB and H2O2. Their catalytic behavior follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Based on these findings, a method was developed for visual detection (via the blue coloration formed) and spectrophotometric determination (at 450 nm) of Pb(II) and Hg(II). The linear range for Pb(II) extends from 0.7 to 96 µM, and the linear ranges for Hg(II) from 97 nM to 2.3 µM and from 3.1 µM to 15.6 µM. The detection limits are 142 nM for Pb(II) and 43.8 nM for Hg(II). Graphical abstract Metallothionein-stabilized copper nanoclusters (MT-CuNCs) display catalase-like activity. On addition of Pb(II) or Hg(II), the catalase-like activity is converted to a peroxidase-like activity. The latter catalyzes the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H2O2.

The stereotyped positioning of the generative cell associated with vacuole dynamics is not required for male gametogenesis in rice pollen.

During male gametogenesis in cereals, the generative cell undergoes a positioning process that parallels the dynamics of the central vacuole, which is believed to be associated with generative cell movement in the male gametophyte. However, the impact of the generative cell positioning and the central vacuole dynamics on male gametogenesis has remained poorly understood. Here, we report that OsGCD1 (GAMETE CELLS DEFECTIVE1) dysfunction influenced pollen development and disrupted pollen germination. Loss of function of OsGCD1 altered the central vacuole dynamics and the generative cell was mispositioned. Nevertheless, twin sperm cells were generated normally, indicating that gametogenesis does not rely on positional information as long as a generative cell is produced. The normal vacuole dynamics seems necessary only for pollen maturation and germination. Our findings also indicate that osgcd1 mutation resulted in rice male sterility in which pollen has full cell viability and generated normal gametes, but lacks the potential to germinate.

Identification of Nutritional Components in Black Sesame Determined by Widely Targeted Metabolomics and Traditional Chinese Medicines.

Chemical composition of secondary metabolites is of great importance for quality control of agricultural products. Black sesame seeds are significantly more expensive than white sesame seeds, because it is thought that black sesame seeds are more beneficial to human health than white sesame seeds. However, the differences in nutrient composition between black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds are still unknown. The current study examined the levels of different metabolites in black and white sesame seeds via the use of a novel metabolomics strategy. Using widely targeted metabolomics data, we obtained the structure and content of 557 metabolites, out of which 217 metabolites were identified, and discovered 30 metabolic pathways activated by the secondary metabolites in both black and white sesame seeds. Our results demonstrated that the main pathways that were differentially activated included: phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and riboflavin metabolism. More importantly, the biomarkers that were significantly different between black seeds and white sesame seeds are highly related to the functions recorded in traditional Chinese medicine. The results of this study may serve as a new theoretical reference for breeding experts to promote the genetic improvement of sesame seeds, and therefore the cultivation of higher quality sesame varieties.

OsGCD1 is essential for rice fertility and required for embryo dorsal-ventral pattern formation and endosperm development.

Rice fertility is critical for rice reproduction and is thus a focus of interest. Most studies have addressed male sterility and its relation to rice production. The mechanisms of regulation of embryogenesis and endosperm development are essential for rice reproduction, but remain largely unknown. Here, we report a functional analysis of the rice gene OsGCD1, which encodes a highly conserved homolog of Arabidopsis GCD1 (GAMETE CELLS DEFECTIVE1). OsGCD1 mutants were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and subjected to functional analysis. The homozygote mutants cannot be obtained, whereas heterozygotes showed altered phenotypes. In the majority of aborted seeds, the endosperm nucleus divided a limited number of times. The free nuclei were distributed only at the micropylar end of embryo sacs, and their oriented positioning was blocked. In addition, aleurone differentiation was interrupted. The embryo developed slowly, and pattern formation, particularly the dorsal-ventral pattern and symmetry establishment, of embryos was disturbed. Thus, the embryos showed various morphological and structural dysplasias. Our findings reveal that OsGCD1 is essential for rice fertility and is required for dorsal-ventral pattern formation and endosperm free nucleus positioning, suggesting a critical role in sexual reproduction of both monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants.

Ribosomal protein NtRPL17 interacts with kinesin-12 family protein NtKRP and functions in the regulation of embryo/seed size and radicle growth.

We previously reported that a novel motor protein belonging to the kinesin-12 family, NtKRP, displays critical roles in regulating embryo and seed size establishment. However, it remains unknown exactly how NtKRP contributes to this developmental process. Here, we report that a 60S ribosomal protein NtRPL17 directly interacts with NtKRP. The phenotypes of NtRPL17 RNAi lines show notable embryo and seed size reduction. Structural observations of the NtRPL17-silenced embryos/seeds reveal that the embryo size reduction is due to a decrease in cell number. In these embryos, cell division cycle progression is delayed at the G2/M transition. These phenotypes are similar to that in NtKRP-silenced embryos/seeds, indicating that NtKRP and NtRPL17 function as partners in the same regulatory pathway during seed development and specifically regulate cell cycle progression to control embryo/seed size. This work reveals that NtRPL17, as a widely distributed ribosomal protein, plays a critical role in seed development and provides a new clue in the regulation of seed size. Confirmation of the interaction between NtKRP and NtRPL17 and their co-function in the control of the cell cycle also suggests that the mechanism might be conserved in both plants and animals.

NtDRP is necessary for accurate zygotic division orientation and differentiation of basal cell lineage toward suspensor formation.

Plant embryogenesis begins with an asymmetric division of the zygote, producing apical and basal cells with distinct cell fates. The asymmetric zygote division is thought to be critical for embryo pattern formation; however, the molecular mechanisms regulating this process, especially maintaining the accurate position and proper orientation of cell division plane, remain poorly understood. Here, we report that a dynamin-related protein in Nicotiana tabacum, NtDRP, plays a critical role in maintaining orientation of zygotic division plane. Down-regulation of NtDRP caused zygotic cell division to occur in different, incorrect orientations and resulted in disruption of suspensor formation, and even development of twin embryos. The basal cell lineage totally integrated with the apical cell lineage into an embryo-like structure, suggesting that NtDRP is essential to accurate zygotic division orientation and differentiation of basal cell lineage toward suspensor formation. We also reveal that NtDRP plays its role by modulating microtubule spatial organization and spindle orientation during early embryogenesis. Thus, we revealed that NtDRP is involved in orientation of the asymmetric zygotic division and differentiation of distinct suspensor and embryo domains, as well as subsequent embryo pattern formation.

Growing Slowly 1 locus encodes a PLS-type PPR protein required for RNA editing and plant development in Arabidopsis.

Most pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are involved in organelle post-transcriptional processes, including RNA editing. The PPR proteins include the PLS subfamily, containing characteristic triplets of P, L, and S motifs; however, their editing mechanisms and roles in developmental processes are not fully understood. In this study, we isolated the Arabidopsis thaliana Growing slowly 1 (AtGRS1) gene and showed that it functions in RNA editing and plant development. Arabidopsis null mutants of grs1 exhibit slow growth and sterility. Further analysis showed that cell division activity was reduced dramatically in the roots of grs1 plants. We determined that GRS1 is a nuclear-encoded mitochondria-localized PPR protein, and is a member of the PLS subfamily. GRS1 is responsible for the RNA editing at four specific sites of four mitochondrial mRNAs: nad1-265, nad4L-55, nad6-103, and rps4-377 The first three of these mRNAs encode for the subunits of complex I of the electron transport chain in mitochondria. Thus, the activity of complex I is strongly reduced in grs1 Changes in RPS4 editing in grs1 plants affect mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis. Expression of the alternative respiratory pathway and the abscisic acid response gene ABI5 were up-regulated in grs1 mutant plants Genetic analysis revealed that ABI5 is involved in the short root phenotype of grs1 Taken together, our results indicate that AtGRS1 regulates plant development by controlling RNA editing in Arabidopsis.

Effects of vitrification protocol on the lactate dehydrogenase and total atpase activities of chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis embryos.

BACKGROUND: Vitrification is the most promising option for the cryopreservation of fish embryos but requires high concentrations of potentially toxic cryoprotectants that can also cause cell injury, and affect cell division, enzymatic activities and cell metabolism. The effect of cryopreservation on the enzyme activity in crustacean embryos has not been reported. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a vitrification protocol on the enzyme activity of different stages of Eriocheir sinensis embryos. The goal was to select an appropriate stage and vitrifying solution for the cryopreservation of embryos from this crustacean. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Embryos from E.sinensis at five development stages (cleavage, blastula, gastrula, eyed stage and heart beating stage) were submitted to six kinds of cryoprotectant incorporation protocol with a five stepwise method. Six vitrifying solutions were prepared by combining cryoprotectants PG, MeOH, Me(2)SO and DMF in different proportions (A: 20 % PG + 20 % DMF; B: 20 % MeOH+20 % DMF; C: 20 % PG+20 % MeOH; D:20 % PG+10 % MeOH+10 % DMF; E:20 % Me2SO+20 % PG;F:20 % Me(2)SO+20 % MeOH). After incubation in the six kinds of vitrification solutions, embryos were loaded into cryo-tubes and plunged into liquid nitrogen. The activities of two cytoplasmic enzymes, LDH and total ATPase were analyzed in control embryos, those subjected to the cryoprotectant solutions and in frozen/thawed embryos. RESULTS: The cryoprotectant incorporation protocol had important effects on the enzymatic activities, and different vitrifying solutions had distinct effects on the enzymatic activities. The early stage embryo was sensitive to the toxic effect of the cryoprotectants, with a significant drop in total ATPase in comparison with fresh, control embryos. Enzymatic activities dropped significantly after vitrification, indicating cell damage and loss of cytoplasmic enzymes. CONCLUSION: The composition of vitrifying solutions had different effects on the loss of the enzyme activity, and the later stage embryo was more resistant to the effect of vitrification.

The MYC, TERT, and ZIC1 genes are common targets of viral integration and transcriptional deregulation in avian leukosis virus subgroup J-induced myeloid leukosis.

UNLABELLED: The integration of retroviruses into the host genome following nonrandom genome-wide patterns may lead to the deregulation of gene expression and oncogene activation near the integration sites. Slow-transforming retroviruses have been widely used to perform genetic screens for the identification of genes involved in cancer. To investigate the involvement of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) integration in myeloid leukosis (ML) in chickens, we utilized an ALV-J insertional identification platform based on hybrid capture target enrichment and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Using high-definition mapping of the viral integration sites in the chicken genome, 241 unique insertion sites were obtained from six different ALV-J-induced ML samples. On the basis of previous statistical definitions, MYC, TERT, and ZIC1 genes were identified as common insertion sites (CIS) of provirus integration in tumor cells; these three genes have previously been shown to be involved in the malignant transformation of different human cell types. Compared to control samples, the expression levels of all three CIS genes were significantly upregulated in chicken ML samples. Furthermore, they were frequently, but not in all field ML cases, deregulated at the mRNA level as a result of ALV-J infection. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the relationship between multipathotypes associated with ALV-J infection and the molecular background of tumorigenesis. IMPORTANCE: ALV-Js have been successfully eradicated from chicken breeding flocks in the poultry industries of developed countries, and the control and eradication of ALV-J in China are now progressing steadily. To further study the pathogenesis of ALV-J infections, it will be necessary to elucidate the in vivo viral integration and tumorigenesis mechanism. In this study, 241 unique insertion sites were obtained from six different ALV-J-induced ML samples. In addition, MYC, TERT, and ZIC1 genes were identified as the CIS of ALV-J in tumor cells, which might be a putative "driver" for the activation of the oncogene. In addition, the CIS genes showed deregulated expression compared to nontumor samples. These results have potentially important implications for the mechanism of viral carcinogenesis.

[Infrared Spectra Characteristics of the Silicate Nickel Ores: A Comparison Study on Different Ore Samples from Indonesia and China].

The silicate nickel ores developed in the lateritic nickel deposit, from Kolonodale, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, and Yuanjiang, Yunnan province, China, were selected for the present study. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier infrared spectra were used to analyze the mineralogical attribute of laterite nickel ores from two different places. The results show that these two different silicate nickel ores have unique infrared spectra characteristics individually, which contributes to the ore classification. The silicate nickel ores from Kolonodale deposit, Indonesia, can be classified as the serpentine type, the montmorillonite + serpentine type, and the garnierite type. While, the silicate nickel ores from Yuanjiang deposit, China, can be classified as the serpentine type and the talc + serpentine type. Moreover, the mineral crystallinity of Yuanjiang nickel ores is generally better than Kolonodale nickel ores. According to the advantage of infrared absorption spectra in distinguishing mineral polytypes, it can be determined that lizardite is the main mineral type in the silicate nickel ores of the two deposits, and there is no obvious evidence of chrysotile and antigorite's existence. The characteristic of infrared absorption spectra also shows that frequency change of OH libration indicates Ni (Fe) replacing Mg in the serpentine type nickel-bearing mineral, that is, OH libration of serpentine moves to higher frequency, with the proportion of Ni (Fe) replacing Mg increasing.