Freshwater Recovery and Removal of Cesium and Strontium from Radioactive Wastewater by Methane Hydrate Formation.

As human society has advanced, nuclear energy has provided energy security while also offering low carbon emissions and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, whereas nuclear power plants have produced large amounts of radioactive wastewater, which threatens human health and the sustainability of water resources. Here, we demonstrate a hydrate-based desalination (HBD) technology that uses methane as a hydrate former for freshwater recovery and for the removal of radioactive chemicals from wastewater, specifically from Cs- and Sr-containing wastewater. The complete exclusion of radioactive ions from solid methane hydrates was confirmed by a close examination using phase equilibria, spectroscopic investigations, thermal analyses, and theoretical calculations, enabling simultaneous freshwater recovery and the removal of radioactive chemicals from wastewater by the methane hydrate formation process described in this study. More importantly, the proposed HBD technology is applicable to radioactive wastewater containing Cs+ and Sr2+ across a broad concentration range of low percentages to hundreds of parts per million (ppm) and even subppm levels, with high removal efficiency of radioactive chemicals. This study highlights the potential of environmentally sustainable technologies to address the challenges posed by radioactive wastewater generated by nuclear technology, providing new insights for future research and development efforts.

Natural variation in rice ascorbate peroxidase gene APX9 is associated with a yield-enhancing QTL cluster.

We previously identified a cluster of yield-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) including plant height in CR4379, a near-isogenic line from a cross between Oryza sativa spp. japonica cultivar 'Hwaseong' and the wild relative Oryza rufipogon. Map-based cloning and transgenic approaches revealed that APX9, which encodes an l-ascorbate peroxidase 4, is associated with this cluster. A 3 bp InDel was observed leading to the addition of a valine in Hwaseong compared with O. rufipogon. APX9-overexpressing transgenic plants in the Hwaseong background were taller than Hwaseong. Consistent with these results, APX9 T-DNA insertion mutants in the japonica cultivar Dongjin were shorter. These results confirm that APX9 is the causal gene for the QTL cluster. Sequence analysis of APX9 from 303 rice accessions revealed that the 3 bp InDel clearly differentiates japonica (APX9HS) and O. rufipogon (APX9OR) alleles. indica accessions shared both alleles, suggesting that APX9HS was introgressed into indica followed by crossing. The finding that O. rufipogon accessions with different origins carry APX9OR suggests that the 3 bp insertion was specifically selected in japonica during its domestication. Our findings demonstrate that APX9 acts as a major regulator of plant development by controlling a valuable suite of agronomically important traits in rice.

A RING-Type E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, OsGW2, Controls Chlorophyll Content and Dark-Induced Senescence in Rice.

Leaf senescence is the final stage of plant development. Many internal and external factors affect the senescence process in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In this study, we identified qCC2, a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for chlorophyll content using a population derived from an interspecific cross between O. sativa (cv. Hwaseong) and Oryza grandiglumis. The O. grandiglumis allele at qCC2 increased chlorophyll content and delayed senescence. GW2 encoding E3 ubiquitin ligase in the qCC2 region was selected as a candidate for qCC2. To determine if GW2 is allelic to qCC2, a gw2-knockout mutant (gw2-ko) was examined using a dark-induced senescence assay. gw2-ko showed delayed leaf senescence in the dark with down-regulated expression of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) and chlorophyll degradation genes (CDGs). The association of the GW2 genotype with the delayed senescence phenotype was confirmed in an F2 population. RNA-seq analysis was conducted to investigate 30-day-old leaf transcriptome dynamics in Hwaseong and a backcross inbred line-CR2002-under dark treatment. This resulted in the identification of genes involved in phytohormone signaling and associated with senescence. These results suggested that transcriptional regulation was associated with delayed senescence in CR2002, and RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase GW2 was a positive regulator of leaf senescence in rice.

Study on Paramagnetic Interactions of (CH3NH3)2CoBr4 Hybrid Perovskites Based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Relaxation Time.

The thermal properties of organic-inorganic (CH3NH3)2CoBr4 crystals were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The phase transition and partial decomposition temperatures were observed at 460 K and 572 K. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts depend on the local field at the site of the resonating nucleus. In addition, temperature-dependent spin-lattice relaxation times (T1ρ) were measured using 1H and 13C magic angle spinning NMR to elucidate the paramagnetic interactions of the (CH3NH3)+ cations. The shortening of 1H and 13C T1ρ of the (CH3NH3)2CoBr4 crystals are due to the paramagnetic Co2+ effect. Moreover, the physical properties of (CH3NH3)2CoBr4 with paramagnetic ions and those of (CH3NH3)2CdBr4 without paramagnetic ions are reported and compared.

Overexpression of the IbMYB1 gene in an orange-fleshed sweet potato cultivar produces a dual-pigmented transgenic sweet potato with improved antioxidant activity.

The R2R3-type protein IbMYB1 is a key regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the storage roots of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam]. Previously, we demonstrated that IbMYB1 expression stimulated anthocyanin pigmentation in tobacco leaves and Arabidopsis. Here, we generated dual-pigmented transgenic sweet potato plants that accumulated high levels of both anthocyanins and carotenoids in a single sweet potato storage root. An orange-fleshed cultivar with high carotenoid levels was transformed with the IbMYB1 gene under the control of either the storage root-specific sporamin 1 (SPO1) promoter or the oxidative stress-inducible peroxidase anionic 2 (SWPA2) promoter. The SPO1-MYB transgenic lines exhibited higher anthocyanin levels in storage roots than empty vector control (EV) or SWPA2-MYB plants, but carotenoid content was unchanged. SWPA2-MYB transgenic lines exhibited higher levels of both anthocyanin and carotenoids than EV plants. Analysis of hydrolyzed anthocyanin extracts indicated that cyanidin and peonidin predominated in both overexpression lines. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that IbMYB1 expression in both IbMYB1 transgenic lines strongly induced the upregulation of several genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, whereas the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes varied between transgenic lines. Increased anthocyanin levels in transgenic plants also promoted the elevation of proanthocyanidin and total phenolic levels in fresh storage roots. Consequently, all IbMYB1 transgenic plants displayed much higher antioxidant activities than EV plants. In field cultivations, storage root yields varied between the transgenic lines. Taken together, our results indicate that overexpression of IbMYB1 is a highly promising strategy for the generation of transgenic plants with enhanced antioxidant capacity.

Differential responses of three sweetpotato metallothionein genes to abiotic stress and heavy metals.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich, low molecular weight, metal-binding proteins that are widely distributed in living organisms. Plants produce metal-chelating proteins such as MTs to overcome the toxic effects of heavy metals. We cloned three MT genes from sweetpotato leaves [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]. The three IbMT genes were classified according to their cysteine residue alignment into type 1 (IbMT1), type 2 (IbMT2), and type 3 (IbMT3). IbMT1 was the most abundantly transcribed MT. It was predominantly expressed in leaves, roots, and callus. IbMT2 transcript was detected only in stems and fibrous roots, whereas IbMT3 was strongly expressed in leaves and stems. The IbMT expression profiles were investigated in plants exposed to heavy metals and abiotic stresses. The levels of IbMT1 expression were strongly elevated in response to Cd and Fe, and moderately higher in response to Cu. The IbMT3 expression pattern in response to heavy metals was similar to that of IbMT1. Exposure to abiotic stresses such as methyl viologen (MV; paraquat), NaCl, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and H2O2 up-regulated IbMT expression; IbMT1 responded strongly to MV and NaCl, whereas IbMT3 was induced by low temperature and PEG. Transgenic Escherichia coli overexpressing IbMT1 protein exhibited results suggest that IbMT could be a useful tool for engineering plants with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses and heavy metals.

Down-regulation of sweetpotato lycopene ß-cyclase gene enhances tolerance to abiotic stress in transgenic calli.

Lycopene ß-cyclase (LCY-ß) is a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of α- and ß-branch carotenoids such as α-carotene and ß-carotene through the cyclization of lycopene. IbLCY-ß had a length of 1,506 bp and approximately 80 % nucleotide sequence identity with that of tomato LCY-ß. IbLCY-ß was strongly expressed in leaves, and expression was enhanced by salt-stress and osmotic-stress conditions. To characterize the LCY-ß gene (IbLCY-ß) of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas), it was isolated and transformed into calli of white-fleshed sweetpotato using an IbLCY-ß-RNAi vector. Transgenic IbLCY-ß-RNAi calli had yellow to orange color and higher antioxidant activity compared to that of white, nontransgenic (NT) calli. Transgenic cells had significantly higher contents of total carotenoids, although lycopene was not detected in transgenic or NT cells. All transgenic calli had strongly activated expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes such as ß-carotene hydroxylases (CHY-ß), cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450), and carotenoid cleavage dioxigenase 1 (CCD1). Transgenic cells exhibited less salt-induced oxidative-stress damage compared to that of NT cells, and also had greater tolerance for polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated drought compared to that of NT cells, due to the higher water content and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The abscisic acid content was also higher in transgenic cells. These results show that a study of IbLCY-ß can facilitate understanding of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway in sweetpotato. IbLCY-ß could be useful for developing transgenic sweetpotato enriched with nutritional carotenoids and with greater tolerance to abiotic stresses.

NMR analysis of structural geometry and molecular dynamics in perovskite-type N(CH3)4CdBr3 crystal near high-temperature phase transition.

The NMR chemical shifts, linewidths, spin-lattice relaxation times in the rotating system T1ρ, and spin-lattice relaxation times in the laboratory system T1 were evaluated for the perovskite-type N(CH3)4CdBr3 crystal, aiming to understand the changes in the structural geometry and molecular dynamics from phase I to phase II. From the temperature-dependence of the 1H, 13C, 14N, and 113Cd NMR chemical shifts, the structural geometry underwent a continuous change, without anomalous changes around (TC = 390 K). However, the linewidths in phase I were narrower than those in phase II, indicating that the motional averaging effects were caused by the rapid rotation of the N(CH3)4 group. Sudden changes in T1 and T1ρ were observed near TC, for which the activation energy Ea in phase I was approximately 12 times larger than that in phase II; the small Ea values in phase II indicate a large degree of freedom for the methyl group and CdBr6 octahedra, whereas the large Ea in phase I was primarily attributed to the overall N(CH3)4 and the 113Cd in the CdBr6 groups. Consequently, the phase transition mechanisms of N(CH3)4CdBr3 are related to reorientation of the N(CH3)4 group and the arrangement of the CdBr6 groups.

Arabidopsis PCR2 is a zinc exporter involved in both zinc extrusion and long-distance zinc transport.

Plants strictly regulate the uptake and distribution of Zn, which is essential for plant growth and development. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana PCR2 is essential for Zn redistribution and Zn detoxification. The pcr2 loss-of-function mutant was compromised in growth, both in Zn-excessive and -deficient conditions. The roots of pcr2 accumulated more Zn than did control plants, whereas the roots of plants overexpressing PCR2 contained less Zn, indicating that PCR2 removes Zn from the roots. Consistent with a role for PCR2 as a Zn-efflux transporter, PCR2 reduced the intracellular concentration of Zn when expressed in yeast cells. PCR2 is located mainly in epidermal cells and in the xylem of young roots, while it is expressed in epidermal cells in fully developed roots. Zn accumulated in the epidermis of the roots of pcr2 grown under Zn-limiting conditions, whereas it was found in the stele of wild-type roots. The transport pathway mediated by PCR2 does not seem to overlap with that mediated by the described Zn translocators (HMA2 and HMA4) since the growth of pcr2 hma4 double and pcr2 hma2 hma4 triple loss-of-function mutants was more severely inhibited than the individual single knockout mutants, both under conditions of excess or deficient Zn. We propose that PCR2 functions as a Zn transporter essential for maintaining an optimal Zn level in Arabidopsis.

Downregulation of the lycopene ε-cyclase gene increases carotenoid synthesis via the ß-branch-specific pathway and enhances salt-stress tolerance in sweetpotato transgenic calli.

Lycopene ε-cyclase (LCY-ε) is involved in the first step of the α-branch synthesis pathway of carotenoids from lycopene in plants. In this study, to enhance carotenoid synthesis via the ß-branch-specific pathway [which yields ß-carotene and abscisic acid (ABA)] in sweet potato, the expression of IbLCY-ε was downregulated by RNAi (RNA interference) technology. The RNAi-IbLCY-ε vector was constructed using a partial cDNA of sweet potato LCY-ε isolated from the storage root and introduced into cultured sweet potato cells by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Both semi-quantitative Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of carotenoid biosynthesis genes and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the metabolites in transgenic calli, in which the LCY- εgene was silenced, showed the activation of ß-branch carotenoids and its related genes. In the transgenic calli, the ß-carotene content was approximately 21-fold higher than in control calli, whereas the lutein content of the transgenic calli was reduced to levels undetectable by HPLC. Similarly, expression of the RNAi-IbLCY-ε transgene resulted in a twofold increase in ABA content compared to control calli. The transgenic calli showed significant tolerance of 200 mM NaCl. Furthermore, both the ß-branch carotenoids content and the expression levels of various branch-specific genes were higher under salt stress than in control calli. These results suggest that, in sweet potato, downregulation of the ε-cyclization of lycopene increases carotenoid synthesis via the ß-branch-specific pathway and may positively regulate cellular defenses against salt-mediated oxidative stress.

Expression of the sweetpotato R2R3-type IbMYB1a gene induces anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis.

R2R3-type MYB transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in transcriptional regulation of anthocyanins. The R2R3-type IbMYB1 is known to be a key regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the storage roots of sweetpotato. We previously showed that transient expression of IbMYB1a led to anthocyanin pigmentation in tobacco leaves. In this article, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the IbMYB1a gene under the control of CaMV 35S promoter, and the sweetpotato SPO and SWPA2 promoters. Overexpression of IbMYBa in transgenic Arabidopsis produced strong anthocyanin pigmentation in seedlings and generated a deep purple color in leaves, stems and seeds. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that IbMYB1a expression induced upregulation of several structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, including 4CL, CHI, F3'H, DFR, AGT, AAT and GST. Furthermore, overexpression of IbMYB1a led to enhanced expression of the AtTT8 (bHLH) and PAP1/AtMYB75 genes. high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that IbMYB1a expression led to the production of cyanidin as a major core molecule of anthocyanidins in Arabidopsis, as occurs in the purple leaves of sweetpotato (cv. Sinzami). This result shows that the IbMYB1a TF is sufficient to induce anthocyanin accumulation in seedlings, leaves, stems and seeds of Arabidopsis plants.

Processing on crystal growth, structure, thermal property, and nuclear magnetic resonance of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite type [NH3(CH2)6NH3]ZnCl4 crystal.

Organic-inorganic hybrid compounds have recently gained significant attention in recent years due to their diverse applications. Herein, [NH3(CH2)6NH3]ZnCl4 crystals were grown, and their triclinic structure, phase transition temperature (TC = 408 K), and high thermal stability (Td = 584 K) was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry measurements. By analyzing the chemical in response to temperature changes, we observed that the coordination geometry around 1H and 13C were highly symmetric below TC, whereas their symmetry was lowered above TC. The change of N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond from XRD results and the change of 14N NMR chemical shifts was due to the changes to the coordination geometry of Cl- around Zn2+ in the ZnCl4 anion. The activation energy of 1H was three times greater than that of 13C, and this result indicates that the energy transfer of 13C was easier than those of 1H. We compared the results for [NH3(CH2)nNH3]ZnCl4 (n = 6) studied here with those for n = 2, 3, 4, and 5 obtained from previous studies. The characteristics of the length of CH2 in the methylene chain are expected to be used for potential applications in the near future.

Analysis of the Structure, Thermal, and Molecular Dynamics of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Crystal at Phases IV, III, II, and I: [NH2(CH3)2]2CdBr4.

A comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical properties of organic-inorganic hybrids is essential for their solid-state lighting applications. Therefore, a single crystal of [NH2(CH3)2]2CdBr4 was grown; the crystal structure was monoclinic, and the phase transition temperatures for the four phases IV, III, II, and I were 383 K (TC1), 417 K (TC2), and 427 K (TC3). Furthermore, the chemical shifts caused by the local field around 1H, 13C, 14N, and 113Cd changed continuously with temperature, especially near TC1, indicating that the local environment changes with temperature. Owing to the large change in 113Cd chemical shifts, the coordination geometry of Br around Cd in the CdBr4 tetrahedra changes near TC1. Therefore, it is proposed that Br plays a significant role in the N-H···Br hydrogen bond. Finally, the spin-lattice relaxation time T1ρ, representing the energy transfer around the 1H and 13C atoms of the cation, changed significantly with temperature. The activation energies obtained from the T1ρ results were two times larger at high temperatures than at low temperatures. This study provides an understanding of the fundamental properties of organic-inorganic hybrid compounds to broaden their applications.

Three Brassica rapa metallothionein genes are differentially regulated under various stress conditions.

The expression profiles of three Brassica rapa metallothionein genes (BrMT 1-3) were determined in 7-day-old seedlings exposed to various exogenous factors including plant hormones, heavy metals and abiotic stresses. BrMT1, BrMT2, and BrMT3 were representatives of MT gene type 1, type 2, and type 3, respectively, according to their cysteine alignment. BrMT2 showed a relatively higher basal expression level compared to BrMT1 and BrMT3 under normal conditions. The BrMT1 transcript was markedly increased by various factors including ethephon, polyethylene glycol and hydrogen peroxide, with no down-regulation evident. On the contrary, BrMT2 expression was down-regulated by abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate. Heavy metals did not increase BrMT2 expression. BrMT3 expression was only marginally and non-significantly up- and down-regulated by the stress conditions tested. Promoter regions of BrMT1 and BrMT2 display different cis-acting elements supporting the different responses of both genes against various stresses. The results demonstrate the differential regulation of BrMT1-3 by various plant exogenous factors, and indicate the utility of the BrMT1 promoter as a multiple stress inducible promoter.

Oncogenic KRAS promotes growth of lung cancer cells expressing SLC3A2-NRG1 fusion via ADAM17-mediated shedding of NRG1.

We previously found the SLC3A2-NRG1 (S-N) fusion gene in a lung adenocarcinoma specimen without known driver mutations and validated this in 59 invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) samples. Interestingly, KRAS mutation coexisted (62.5%) in 10 out of 16 NRG1 fusions. In this study, we examined the role of mutant KRAS in regulating the S-N fusion protein in KRAS mutant (H358) and wild-type (Calu-3) cells. KRAS mutation-mediated increase in MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 activity enhanced disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)17 activity, which increased the shedding of NRG1 from the S-N fusion protein. The cleavage of NRG1 also increased the phosphorylation of ERBB2-ERBB3 heterocomplex receptors and their downstream signalling pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, even under activated KRAS mutation signalling. The concurrence of S-N fusion and KRAS mutation synergistically increased cell proliferation, colony formation, tumour growth, and the cells' resistance to EGFR kinase inhibitors more than KRAS mutation alone. Targeted inhibition of MEK1/2, and ADAM17 significantly induced apoptosis singly and when combined with each mutation singly or with chemotherapy in both the concurrent KRAS mutant and S-N fusion xenograft and lung orthotopic models. Taken together, this is the first study to report that KRAS mutation increased NRG1 cleavage from the S-N fusion protein through ADAM17, thereby enhancing the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and ERBB/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. Moreover, the coexistence of KRAS mutant and S-N fusion in lung tumours renders them vulnerable to MEK1/2 and/or ADAM17 inhibitors, at least in part, due to their dependency on the strong positive loop between KRAS mutation and S-N fusion.

Brassinosteroid biosynthesis gene OsD2 is associated with low-temperature germinability in rice.

In rice, low-temperature germinability (LTG) is essential for stable stand establishment using the direct seeding method in temperate and high-altitude areas. Previously, we reported that the quantitative trait locus qLTG1 is associated with LTG. qLTG1 is also associated with tolerance to several abiotic stresses, such as salt and osmotic conditions. In this study, map-based cloning and sequence analysis indicated that qLTG1 is allelic to DWARF2 (OsD2), which encodes cytochrome P450 D2 (LOC_Os01g10040) involved in brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis. Sequence comparison of the two parental lines, Hwaseong and Oryza rufipogon (IRGC 105491), revealed five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding region. Three of these SNPs led to missense mutations in OsD2, whereas the other two SNPs were synonymous. We evaluated two T-DNA insertion mutants, viz., overexpression (OsD2-OE) and knockdown (OsD2-KD) mutants of OsD2, with the Dongjin genetic background. OsD2-KD plants showed a decrease in LTG and grain size. In contrast, OsD2-OE plants showed an increase in grain size and LTG. We also examined the expression levels of several BR signaling and biosynthetic genes using the T-DNA insertion mutants. Gene expression analysis and BR application experiments demonstrated that BR enhanced the seed germination rate under low-temperature conditions. These results suggest that OsD2 is associated with the regulation of LTG and improving grain size. Thus, OsD2 may be a suitable target for rice breeding programs to improve rice yield and LTG.

Physicochemical Property Investigations of Perovskite-Type Layer Crystals [NH3(CH2) n NH3]CdCl4 (n = 2, 3, and 4) as a Function of Length n of CH2.

Hybrid perovskites have potential applications in several electrochemical devices such as supercapacitors, batteries, and fuel cells. Here, the thermal stabilities as a function of the length n of the CH2 groups in [NH3(CH2) n NH3]CdCl4 (n = 2, 3, and 4) crystals were considered by TGA and DTA. The structural characteristics and molecular dynamics were studied by MAS and static NMR experiments. A comparison of spin-lattice relaxation times indicated that the organic cation containing 1H and 13C was significantly more flexible than the inorganic anion containing 113Cd. The flexibility of 1H increased with an increase in the length of CH2 in the carbon chain, resulting in a decrease in the activation energy (E a) of 1H. The E a of 13C at n = 3 and 4 was more flexible at high temperatures than at low temperatures. In contrast, the E a of 13C at n = 2 was more flexible at low temperatures. These results provide insight into the thermal stability and molecular dynamics of these crystals as a function of the length n of CH2 groups in the carbon chain and are expected to facilitate applications.

Physicochemical properties and structural dynamics of organic-inorganic hybrid [NH3(CH2)3NH3]ZnX4 (X = Cl and Br) crystals.

The physical properties of the organic-inorganic hybrid crystals having the formula [NH3(CH2)3NH3]ZnX4 (X = Cl, Br) were investigated. The phase transition temperatures (TC; 268K for Cl and 272K for Br) of the two crystals bearing different halogen atoms in their skeletons were determined through differential scanning calorimetry. The thermodynamic properties of the two crystals were investigated through thermogravimetric analysis. The structural dynamics, particularly the role of the [NH3(CH2)3NH3] cation, were probed through 1H and 13C magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a function of temperature. The 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts did not show any changes near TC. In addition, the 1H spin-lattice relaxation time (T1ρ) varied with temperature, whereas the 13C T1ρ values remained nearly constant at different temperatures. The T1ρ values of the atoms in [NH3(CH2)3NH3]ZnCl4 were higher than those in [NH3(CH2)3NH3]ZnBr4. The observed differences in the structural dynamics obtained from the chemical shifts and T1ρ values of the two compounds can be attributed to the differences in the bond lengths and halogen atoms. These findings can provide important insights or potential applications of these crystals.

Characterization of Brassica rapa metallothionein and phytochelatin synthase genes potentially involved in heavy metal detoxification.

Brassica rapa is an important leafy vegetable that can potentially accumulate high concentrations of cadmium (Cd), posing a risk to human health. The aim of the present study was to identify cadmium detoxifying molecular mechanisms in B. rapa using a functional cloning strategy. A cDNA library constructed from roots of B. rapa plants treated with Cd was transformed into the Cd sensitive yeast mutant strain DTY167 that lacks the yeast cadmium factor (YCF1), and resistant yeast clones were selected on Cd containing media. Two hundred genes potentially conferring cadmium resistance were rescued from the surviving yeast clones and sequenced. Sequencing analysis revealed that genes encoding for metallothionein (MT)1, MT2a, MT2b and MT3, and phytochelatin synthase (PCS)1 and PCS2 accounted for 35.5%, 28.5%, 4%, 11.3%, 18.7% and 2%, respectively of the genes identified. MTs and PCSs expressing DTY167 cells showed resistance to Cd as well as to Zn. PCS1 expressing yeast cells were also more resistant to Pb compared to those expressing MTs or PCS2. RT-PCR results showed that Cd treatment strongly induced the expression levels of MTs in the root and shoot. Furthermore, the different MTs and PCSs exhibited tissue specific expression. The results indicate that MTs and PCS genes potentially play a central role in detoxifying Cd and other toxic metals in B. rapa.

A Novel Embryo Phenotype Associated With Interspecific Hybrid Weakness in Rice Is Controlled by the MADS-Domain Transcription Factor OsMADS8.

A novel hybrid weakness gene, DTE9, associated with a dark tip embryo (DTE) trait, was observed in CR6078, an introgression line derived from a cross between the Oryza sativa spp. japonica "Hwayeong" (HY) and the wild relative Oryza rufipogon. CR6078 seeds exhibit protruding embryos and flowers have altered inner floral organs. DTE9 was also associated with several hybrid weakness symptoms including decreased grain weight. Map-based cloning and transgenic approaches revealed that DTE9 is an allele of OsMADS8, a MADS-domain transcription factor. Genetic analysis indicated that two recessive complementary genes were responsible for the expression of the DTE trait. No sequence differences were observed between the two parental lines in the OsMADS8 coding region; however, numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the promoter and intronic regions. We generated overexpression (OX) and RNA interference (RNAi) transgenic lines of OsMADS8 in HY and CR6078, respectively. The OsMADS8-OX lines showed the dark tip embryo phenotype, whereas OsMADS8-RNAi recovered the normal embryo phenotype. Changes in gene expression, including of ABCDE floral homeotic genes, were observed in the OsMADS8-OX and OsMADS8-RNAi lines. Overexpression of OsMADS8 led to decreased expression of OsEMF2b and ABA signaling-related genes including OsVP1/ABI3. HY seeds showed higher ABA content than CR6078 seeds, consistent with OsMADS8/DTE9 regulating the expression of genes related ABA catabolism in CR6078. Our results suggest that OsMADS8 is critical for floral organ determination and seed germination and that these effects are the result of regulation of the expression of OsEMF2b and its role in ABA signaling and catabolism.