The temperature sensor TWA1 is required for thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.

Plants exposed to incidences of excessive temperatures activate heat-stress responses to cope with the physiological challenge and stimulate long-term acclimation1,2. The mechanism that senses cellular temperature for inducing thermotolerance is still unclear3. Here we show that TWA1 is a temperature-sensing transcriptional co-regulator that is needed for basal and acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. At elevated temperatures, TWA1 changes its conformation and allows physical interaction with JASMONATE-ASSOCIATED MYC-LIKE (JAM) transcription factors and TOPLESS (TPL) and TOPLESS-RELATED (TPR) proteins for repressor complex assembly. TWA1 is a predicted intrinsically disordered protein that has a key thermosensory role functioning through an amino-terminal highly variable region. At elevated temperatures, TWA1 accumulates in nuclear subdomains, and physical interactions with JAM2 and TPL appear to be restricted to these nuclear subdomains. The transcriptional upregulation of the heat shock transcription factor A2 (HSFA2) and heat shock proteins depended on TWA1, and TWA1 orthologues provided different temperature thresholds, consistent with the sensor function in early signalling of heat stress. The identification of the plant thermosensors offers a molecular tool for adjusting thermal acclimation responses of crops by breeding and biotechnology, and a sensitive temperature switch for thermogenetics.

The HN protein of Newcastle disease virus induces cell apoptosis through the induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization.

Lysosomes are acidic organelles that mediate the degradation and recycling of cellular waste materials. Damage to lysosomes can cause lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and trigger different types of cell death, including apoptosis. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can naturally infect most birds. Additionally, it serves as a promising oncolytic virus known for its effective infection of tumor cells and induction of intensive apoptotic responses. However, the involvement of lysosomes in NDV-induced apoptosis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that NDV infection profoundly triggers LMP, leading to the translocation of cathepsin B and D and subsequent mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in various tumor and avian cells. Notably, the released cathepsin B and D exacerbate NDV-induced LMP by inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species. Additionally, we uncover that the viral Hemagglutinin neuraminidase (HN) protein induces the deglycosylation and degradation of lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and LAMP2 dependent on its sialidase activity, which finally contributes to NDV-induced LMP and cellular apoptosis. Overall, our findings elucidate the role of LMP in NDV-induced cell apoptosis and provide novel insights into the function of HN during NDV-induced LMP, which provide innovative approaches for the development of NDV-based oncolytic agents.

Hierarchically structured diamond composite with exceptional toughness.

The well known trade-off between hardness and toughness (resistance to fracture) makes simultaneous improvement of both properties challenging, especially in diamond. The hardness of diamond can be increased through nanostructuring strategies1,2, among which the formation of high-density nanoscale twins - crystalline regions related by symmetry - also toughens diamond2. In materials other than diamond, there are several other promising approaches to enhancing toughness in addition to nanotwinning3, such as bio-inspired laminated composite toughening4-7, transformation toughening8 and dual-phase toughening9, but there has been little research into such approaches in diamond. Here we report the structural characterization of a diamond composite hierarchically assembled with coherently interfaced diamond polytypes (different stacking sequences), interwoven nanotwins and interlocked nanograins. The architecture of the composite enhances toughness more than nanotwinning alone, without sacrificing hardness. Single-edge notched beam tests yield a toughness up to five times that of synthetic diamond10, even greater than that of magnesium alloys. When fracture occurs, a crack propagates through diamond nanotwins of the 3C (cubic) polytype along {111} planes, via a zigzag path. As the crack encounters regions of non-3C polytypes, its propagation is diffused into sinuous fractures, with local transformation into 3C diamond near the fracture surfaces. Both processes dissipate strain energy, thereby enhancing toughness. This work could prove useful in making superhard materials and engineering ceramics. By using structural architecture with synergetic effects of hardening and toughening, the trade-off between hardness and toughness may eventually be surmounted.

Integrating multi-omics data reveals energy and stress signaling activated by abscisic acid in Arabidopsis.

Phytohormones are essential signaling molecules regulating various processes in growth, development, and stress responses. Genetic and molecular studies, especially using Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), have discovered many important players involved in hormone perception, signal transduction, transport, and metabolism. Phytohormone signaling pathways are extensively interconnected with other endogenous and environmental stimuli. However, our knowledge of the huge and complex molecular network governed by a hormone remains limited. Here we report a global overview of downstream events of an abscisic acid (ABA) receptor, REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF ABA RECEPTOR (RCAR) 6 (also known as PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE 1 [PYR1]-LIKE [PYL] 12), by integrating phosphoproteomic, proteomic and metabolite profiles. Our data suggest that the RCAR6 overexpression constitutively decreases the protein levels of its coreceptors, namely clade A protein phosphatases of type 2C, and activates sucrose non-fermenting-1 (SNF1)-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) and SnRK2, the central regulators of energy and ABA signaling pathways. Furthermore, several enzymes in sugar metabolism were differentially phosphorylated and expressed in the RCAR6 line, and the metabolite profile revealed altered accumulations of several organic acids and amino acids. These results indicate that energy- and water-saving mechanisms mediated by the SnRK1 and SnRK2 kinases, respectively, are under the control of the ABA receptor-coreceptor complexes.

MIR396-GRF/GIF enhances in planta shoot regeneration of Dendrobium catenatum.

Recent studies on co-transformation of the growth regulator, TaGRF4-GIF1 chimera (Growth Regulating Factor 4-GRF Interacting Factor 1), in cultivated wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum), showed improved regeneration efficiency, marking a significant breakthrough. Here, a simple and reproducible protocol using the GRF4-GIF1 chimera was established and tested in the medicinal orchid Dendrobium catenatum, a monocot orchid species. TaGRF4-GIF1 from T. aestivum and DcGRF4-GIF1 from D. catenatum were reconstructed, with the chimeras significantly enhancing the regeneration efficiency of D. catenatum through in planta transformation. Further, mutating the microRNA396 (miR396) target sites in TaGRF4 and DcGRF4 improved regeneration efficiency. The target mimicry version of miR396 (MIM396) not only boosted shoot regeneration but also enhanced plant growth. Our methods revealed a powerful tool for the enhanced regeneration and genetic transformation of D. catenatum.

Hippuric acid alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis via suppressing inflammatory activity and modulating gut microbiota.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with metabolic disorder and gut dysbiosis. Decreased abundance of hippuric acid (HA) was found in patients with IBD. HA, metabolized directly from benzoic acid in the intestine and indirectly from polyphenols, serves as a marker of polyphenol catabolism. While polyphenols and benzoic acid have been shown to alleviate intestinal inflammation, the role of HA in this context remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the effects and mechanism of HA on DSS-induced colitis mice. The results revealed that HA alleviated clinical activity and intestinal barrier damage, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Metagenomic sequencing suggested that HA treatment restored the gut microbiota, including an increase in beneficial gut bacteria such as Adlercreutzia, Eubacterium, Schaedlerella and Bifidobacterium_pseudolongum. Furthermore, we identified 113 candidate genes associated with IBD that are potentially under HA regulation through network pharmacological analyses. 10 hub genes including ALB, IL-6, HSP90AA1, and others were identified using PPI analysis and validated using molecular docking and mRNA expression analysis. Additionally, KEGG analysis suggested that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), NF-κB signaling and Rap1 signaling pathways were important pathways in the response of HA to colitis. Thus, HA may provide novel biotherapy options for IBD.

Self-healing of fractured diamond.

Materials that possess the ability to self-heal cracks at room temperature, akin to living organisms, are highly sought after. However, achieving crack self-healing in inorganic materials, particularly with covalent bonds, presents a great challenge and often necessitates high temperatures and considerable atomic diffusion. Here we conducted a quantitative evaluation of the room-temperature self-healing behaviour of a fractured nanotwinned diamond composite, revealing that the self-healing properties of the composite stem from both the formation of nanoscale diamond osteoblasts comprising sp2- and sp3-hybridized carbon atoms at the fractured surfaces, and the atomic interaction transition from repulsion to attraction when the two fractured surfaces come into close proximity. The self-healing process resulted in a remarkable recovery of approximately 34% in tensile strength for the nanotwinned diamond composite. This discovery sheds light on the self-healing capability of nanostructured diamond, offering valuable insights for future research endeavours aimed at enhancing the toughness and durability of brittle ceramic materials.

Monolayer directional metasurface for all-optical image classifier doublet.

Diffractive deep neural networks, known for their passivity, high scalability, and high efficiency, offer great potential in holographic imaging, target recognition, and object classification. However, previous endeavors have been hampered by spatial size and alignment. To address these issues, this study introduces a monolayer directional metasurface, aimed at reducing spatial constraints and mitigating alignment issues. Utilizing this methodology, we use MNIST datasets to train diffractive deep neural networks and realize digital classification, revealing that the metasurface can achieve excellent digital image classification results, and the classification accuracy of ideal phase mask plates and metasurface for phase-only modulation can reach 84.73% and 84.85%, respectively. Despite a certain loss of degrees of freedom compared to multi-layer phase mask plates, the single-layer metasurface is easier to fabricate and align, thereby improving spatial utilization efficiency.

Elliptical spiral zone plate fabrication using direct laser writing for generating an elliptical perfect vortex beam.

We report and fabricate a novel, to our knowledge, vortex beam generator called elliptical spiral zone plate (ESZP) using direct laser writing (DLW), which can generate the elliptical perfect vortex beam (EPVB). It is shown that the radius of the EPVB can be adjusted by tuning the control parameters of the ESZP. It is verified through the interference experiment and the Hermitian-Gaussian light field that the topological charge of the EPVB is consistent with the design. In addition, we integrate the ESZP at the tip of the single-mode fiber. Our work may set the scene for applications in fiber optical tweezers, optical communications, and integrated optics.

Monolayer directional metasurface for all-optical image classifier doublet: publisher's note.

This publisher's note contains a correction to Opt. Lett.49, 2505 (2024)10.1364/OL.520642.

Fresnel lens three-dimensionally printed on the facet of a single mode fiber for trapping, manipulation, and spectrum.

Fiber optical tweezers (FOTs) provide a functionality for micro-/nanoparticle manipulation with a slim and flexible optical fiber setup. An added in situ spectroscopic functionality can achieve characterization of the trapped particle, potentially useful for endoscopic, in-vivo studies in an inherently heterogeneous environment if the applicator end is all-fiber-built. Here, we demonstrate all-fiber optical tweezers (a-FOTs) for the trapping and in situ spectral measurement of a single, cell-sized microparticle. The key to ensure the simultaneous bifunctionality is a high numerical aperture (NA) Fresnel lens fabricated by two-photon direct laser writing (DLW) corrected by grid-correction methods. We demonstrate trapping and time-resolved, in situ spectroscopy of a single upconversion particle (UCP), a common fluorescent biomarker in biophotonics. The system achieves a 0.5-s time resolution in the in situ spectral measurement of a trapped UCP. The all-fiber designed system preserves the advantages of flexibility and robustness of the fiber, potentially useful for in-vivo biomedical studies such as cell-to-cell interactions, pH and temperature detection, and nucleic acids detection.

Full Stokes polarimetry based on an inverse-designed multi-foci metalens.

In the realm of metasurface-based polarimetry, well-known for its remarkable compactness and integration capabilities, previous attempts have been hindered by limitations such as the restricted choices of target polarization states and the inefficient focusing of light. To address these problems, this study introduces and harnesses a novel, to our knowledge, forward-solving model, grounded in the equivalence principle and dyadic Green's function, to inversely optimize the vectorial focusing patterns of metalenses. Leveraging this methodology, we develop and experimentally validate a single multi-foci metalens-based polarimeter, capable of simultaneously separating and concentrating four distinct elliptical polarization states at a wavelength of 10.6 µm. Rigorous experimental evaluations, involving the assessment of 18 scalar polarized beams, reveal an average error of 5.92% and a high contrast ratio of 0.92, which demonstrates the efficacy of the polarimeter. The results underscore the potential of our system in diverse sectors, including military defense, healthcare, and autonomous vehicle technology.

Design of Refined Quaternary Electrolyte LiF-LiCl-LiBr-LiI Used for the Liquid Metal Battery.

The advanced electrolyte of liquid metal battery should have low melting point, low ionic solubility, low viscosity, high electric and thermal conductivities, and a suitable density between anode and cathode for declining the operating temperature and realizing the goal of saving-energy. In this study, an excellent quaternary LiF-LiCl-LiBr-LiI (9.1 : 30.0 : 21.7 : 39.2) electrolyte is refined by using thermodynamic models to balance various properties of LiX (X=F, Cl, Br, I) and meet the requirement of advanced electrolyte of liquid metal battery. The refined properties of electrolyte correspond to 2.398 g/cm3 for density, 0.286 mol% for solubility, 4.486 Ohm-1 cm-1 for ionic conductivity, and 0.609 W m-1 for thermal conductivity. The measured melting point is 609.1 K, which is lower than the current operating temperature of 723 K for the lithium-based liquid metal battery. The refined electrolyte consisted by quaternary halide molten-salt provides important references for preparing the advanced liquid metal battery.

Effective degradation of phenol by activating PMS with bimetallic Mo and Ni Co-doped g C3N4 composite catalyst: A Fenton-like degradation process promoted by non-free radical 1O2.

The application of bimetal supported graphite phase carbon nitride in activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) process has become a research hotspot in recent years. In this study, 8-g C3N4/Mo/Ni composite catalyst material was successfully prepared by doping Mo and Ni in graphite phase carbon nitride. The bimetallic active sites were formed in the catalyst, and PMS was activated by the metal valence Mo6+/Mo4+ and Ni2+/Ni(0) through redox double cycle to effectively degrade phenol. When pH was neutral, the degradation rate of 20 mg/L phenol solution with 8-g C3N4/Mo/Ni (0.35 g/L) and PMS (0.6 mM) could reach 95% within 20 min. The degradation rate of 8-g C3N4/Mo/Ni/PMS catalytic system could reach more than 90% within 20min under the condition of pH range of 3-11 and different anions. Meanwhile, the degradation effects of RhB, MB and OFX on different pollutants within 30min were 99%, 100% and 82%, respectively. Electron spin resonance and quenching experiments showed that in 8-g C3N4/Mo/Ni/PMS system, the degradation mechanism was mainly non-free radicals, and the main active species in the degradation process was 1O2. This study provides a new idea for the study of bimetal supported graphite phase carbon nitride activation of PMS and the theoretical study of degradation mechanism.

Causal association of obesity with epigenetic aging and telomere length: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: In observational studies, there exists an association between obesity and epigenetic age as well as telomere length. However, varying and partially conflicting outcomes have notably arisen from distinct studies on this topic. In the present study, two-way Mendelian randomization was used to identify potential causal associations between obesity and epigenetic age and telomeres. METHODS: A genome-wide association study was conducted using data from individuals of European ancestry to investigate bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) regarding the causal relationships between obesity, as indicated by three obesity indicators (body mass index or BMI, waist circumference adjusted for BMI or WCadjBMI, and waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI or WHRadjBMI), and four epigenetic age measures (HannumAge, HorvathAge, GrimAge, PhenoAge), as well as telomere length. To assess these causal associations, various statistical methods were employed, including Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), Weighted Median, MR Egger, Weighted Mode, and Simple Mode. To address the issue of multiple testing, we applied the Bonferroni correction. These methods were used to determine whether there is a causal link between obesity and epigenetic age, as well as telomere length, and to explore potential bidirectional relationships. Forest plots and scatter plots were generated to show causal associations between exposures and outcomes. For a comprehensive visualization of the results, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis plots, individual SNP-based forest plots for MR analysis, and funnel plots were included in the presentation of the results. RESULTS: A strong causal association was identified between obesity and accelerated HannumAge, GrimAge, PhenoAge and telomere length shrinkage. The causal relationship between WCadjBMI and PhenoAge acceleration (OR: 2.099, 95%CI: 1.248-3.531, p = 0.005) was the strongest among them. However, only the p-values for the causal associations of obesity with GrimAge, PhenoAge, and telomere length met the criteria after correction using the Bonferroni multiple test. In the reverse MR analysis, there were statistically significant causal associations between HorvathAge, PhenoAge and GrimAge and BMI, but these associations exhibited lower effect sizes, as indicated by their Odds Ratios (ORs). Notably, sensitivity analysis revealed the robustness of the study results. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings reveal a causal relationship between obesity and the acceleration of epigenetic aging as well as the reduction of telomere length, offering valuable insights for further scientific investigations aimed at developing strategies to mitigate the aging process in humans.

Enhancing Fat Transplantation Efficiency in a Mouse Model through Pretreatment of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells with RIP3 Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat transplantation, widely used in cosmetic and reparative surgery for volumetric enhancements, faces challenges with its inconsistent long-term survival rates. The technique's efficacy, crucial for its development, is hindered by unpredictable outcomes. Enriching fat grafts with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) shows promise in improving survival efficiency. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the potential of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) kinase inhibitors as a pretreatment for ADSCs in enhancing autologous fat graft retention over a long term. METHODS: ADSCs were isolated, cultured under normal or oxygen-glucose deprivation conditions, and mixed with particulate fat grafts to form distinct experimental groups in female nude mice. Fat graft mass and volume, along with underlying mechanisms, were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The experimental group, pretreated with RIP3 kinase inhibitors, had higher graft mass and volume, greater adipocyte integrity, and increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) mRNA levels than control groups. Furthermore, the experimental group demonstrated lower expression of necroptosis pathway proteins in the short term and an ameliorated inflammatory response as indicated by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA levels, and histological analyses. Notably, enhanced neovascularization was evident in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that RIP3 kinase inhibitor pretreatment of ADSCs can improve fat graft survival, promote adipocyte integrity, potentially decrease inflammation, and enhance neovascularization. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Trajectory of gestational weight gain is related to birthweight: The TAWS cohort study in China.

Few studies have reported the timing and amount of gestational weight gain (GWG) to prevent large-for-gestational-age (LGA) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA). This study aimed to evaluate the association of GWG velocity in each trimester with LGA or SGA based on data from the Taicang and Wuqiang cohort study (TAWS, n = 2008). We used a linear mixed model to evaluate the association of trimester-specific GWG velocity with birthweight categories and stratified by prepregnancy body mass index category and parity. For normal-weight pregnant women, mothers with LGA births had higher GWG velocities than mothers with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) births in the first trimester (0.108 vs. 0.031 kg/week, p < 0.01), second trimester (0.755 vs. 0.631 kg/week, p < 0.01) and third trimester (0.664 vs. 0.594 kg/week, p < 0.01); in contrast, mothers with SGA births had lower GWG velocities than mothers with AGA births in the second trimester (0.528 vs. 0.631 kg/week, p < 0.01) and third trimester (0.541 vs. 0.594 kg/week, p < 0.01). For normal-weight pregnant women with AGA births, multiparous women had lower GWG velocities than primiparous women in the second (0.602 vs. 0.643 kg/week, p < 0.01) and third trimesters (0.553 vs. 0.606 kg/week, p < 0.01). Therefore, for normal-weight women, LGA prevention would begin in early pregnancy and continue until delivery and the second and third trimesters may be critical periods for preventing SGA; in addition, among normal-weight pregnant women with AGA births, multiparous women tend to have lower weight gain velocities than primiparous women.

[Prevalence of and risk factors for perceived absence of breast milk supply in Chinese lactating women in 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of postpartum perceived absence of breast milk supply among Chinese mothers in 2013. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on the data collected from children and mothers under 2 years of age in 2013 as part of the nutrition and health surveillance of Chinese residents. In this study, multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used to select subjects from 55 countires/districts in 30 provinces in China. The perceived absence of breast milk supply was defined as the mother's self-reported absence of breast milk and failure to breastfeed. Breastfeeding knowledge, maternal breastfeeding knowledge and general characteristics were collected through a structured questionnaire. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression were used to analyze the factors associated with perceived absence of breast milk supply. RESULTS: A total of 12091 mothers were included in the study, including 419 in the perceived non-breastfeeding group, the prevalence of perceived absence of breast milk supply was 3.5%. Multivariate Logistic regression showed maternal age(OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06), postpartum hemorrhage(OR=2.03, 95%CI 1.30-3.16), and belief that breastfeeding should continue beyond 12 months of age(OR=0.27, 95%CI 0.17-0.45), not knowing how to breastfeed(OR=3.31, 95%CI: 2.31-4.74) were the main influencing factors for perceived absence of breast milk supply after delivery. CONCLUSION: Age, postpartum hemorrhage and knowledge level of breastfeeding are the main risk factors for perceived absence of breast milk supply, and knowledge level of breastfeeding is a modifiable factor.

[Role of macrophage polarization in hypertension and traditional Chinese medicine intervention: a review].

Hypertension is known to be a chronic inflammatory state and a key risk factor for heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis. Macrophages in the circulatory system are the main cell group that constitutes the immune system and participates in the inflammatory response. Depending on the local microenvironment, macrophages can be polarized into pro-inflammatory(M1) and anti-inflammatory(M2) phenotypes. When blood pressure is elevated, M1 macrophages can release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to generate an immune response. However, an excessive immune response can lead to tissue damage, and M2 macrophages release anti-inflammatory cytokines to promote the repair of wounds and tissue damage. It is clear that the dynamic balance between M1 and M2 macrophages resembles the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory of Yin and Yang. That is, when Yin and Yang are imbalanced, the human body will exhibit pathological states, e.g., altered blood pressure rhythms. Studies have confirmed that TCM can produce positive therapeutic effects on hypertension by regulating macrophage polarization. Therefore, this study reviews the studies about the TCM regulation of macrophage polarization and summarized the mechanisms of TCM intervention in hypertension, with the aim of providing evidence for clinical treatment and ideas for scientific research design.

Transcriptomic-based analysis to identify candidate genes for blue color rose breeding.

KEY MESSAGE: Analysis of the flower color formation mechanism of 'Rhapsody in Blue' by BF and WF transcriptomes reveals that RhF3'H and RhGT74F2 play a key role in flower color formation. Rosa hybrida has colorful flowers and a high ornamental value. Although rose flowers have a wide range of colors, no blue roses exist in nature, and the reason for this is unclear. In this study, the blue-purple petals (BF) of the rose variety 'Rhapsody in Blue' and the white petals (WF) of its natural mutant were subjected to transcriptome analysis to find genes related to the formation of the blue-purple color. The results showed that the anthocyanin content was significantly higher in BF than in WF. A total of 1077 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected by RNA-Seq analysis, of which 555 were up-regulated and 522 were down-regulated in the WF vs. BF petals. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses of the DEGs revealed that a single gene up-regulated in BF was related to multiple metabolic pathways including metabolic process, cellular process, protein-containing complex, etc. Additionally, the transcript levels of most of the structural genes related to anthocyanin synthesis were significantly higher in BF than in WF. Selected genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR and the results were highly consistent with the RNA-Seq results. The functions of RhF3'H and RhGT74F2 were verified by transient overexpression analyses, and the results confirmed that both affect the accumulation of anthocyanins in 'Rhapsody in Blue'. We have obtained comprehensive transcriptome data for the rose variety 'Rhapsody in Blue'. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying rose color formation and even blue rose formation.