Deciphering dynamic interactions between spermatozoa and the ovarian microenvironment through integrated multi-omics approaches in viviparous Sebastes schlegelii.

The ovarian microenvironment plays a crucial role in ensuring the reproductive success of viviparous teleosts. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between spermatozoa and the ovarian microenvironment has remained elusive. This study aimed to contribute to a better understanding of this process in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) using integrated multi-omics approaches. The results demonstrated significant upregulation of ovarian complement-related proteins and pattern recognition receptors, along with remodeling of glycans on the surface of spermatozoa at the early spermatozoa-storage stage (1 month after mating). As spermatozoa were stored over time, ovarian complement proteins were progressively repressed by tryptophan and hippurate, indicating a remarkable adaptation of spermatozoa to the ovarian microenvironment. Before fertilization, a notable upregulation of cellular junction proteins was observed. The study revealed that spermatozoa bind to ZPB2a protein through GSTM3 and that ZPB2a promotes spermatozoa survival and movement in a GSTM3-dependent manner. These findings shed light on a key mechanism that influences the dynamics of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract, providing valuable insights into the molecular networks regulating spermatozoa adaptation and survival in species with internal fertilization.

JMJD6 Licenses ERα-Dependent Enhancer and Coding Gene Activation by Modulating the Recruitment of the CARM1/MED12 Co-activator Complex.

Whereas the actions of enhancers in gene transcriptional regulation are well established, roles of JmjC-domain-containing proteins in mediating enhancer activation remain poorly understood. Here, we report that recruitment of the JmjC-domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) to estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-bound active enhancers is required for RNA polymerase II recruitment and enhancer RNA production on enhancers, resulting in transcriptional pause release of cognate estrogen target genes. JMJD6 is found to interact with MED12 in the mediator complex to regulate its recruitment. Unexpectedly, JMJD6 is necessary for MED12 to interact with CARM1, which methylates MED12 at multiple arginine sites and regulates its chromatin binding. Consistent with its role in transcriptional activation, JMJD6 is required for estrogen/ERα-induced breast cancer cell growth and tumorigenesis. Our data have uncovered a critical regulator of estrogen/ERα-induced enhancer coding gene activation and breast cancer cell potency, providing a potential therapeutic target of ER-positive breast cancers.

CARM1 hypermethylates the NuRD chromatin remodeling complex to promote cell cycle gene expression and breast cancer development.

Protein arginine methyltransferase CARM1 has been shown to methylate a large number of non-histone proteins, and play important roles in gene transcriptional activation, cell cycle progress, and tumorigenesis. However, the critical substrates through which CARM1 exerts its functions remain to be fully characterized. Here, we reported that CARM1 directly interacts with the GATAD2A/2B subunit in the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex, expanding the activities of NuRD to include protein arginine methylation. CARM1 and NuRD bind and activate a large cohort of genes with implications in cell cycle control to facilitate the G1 to S phase transition. This gene activation process requires CARM1 to hypermethylate GATAD2A/2B at a cluster of arginines, which is critical for the recruitment of the NuRD complex. The clinical significance of this gene activation mechanism is underscored by the high expression of CARM1 and NuRD in breast cancers, and the fact that knockdown CARM1 and NuRD inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Targeting CARM1-mediated GATAD2A/2B methylation with CARM1 specific inhibitors potently inhibit breast cancer cell growth in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. These findings reveal a gene activation program that requires arginine methylation established by CARM1 on a key chromatin remodeler, and targeting such methylation might represent a promising therapeutic avenue in the clinic.

Double synonymous mutations in exon 9 of the Cullin3 gene restore exon inclusion by abolishing hnRNPs inhibition.

All mutations in exon 9 of the Cullin3 gene associated with pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHA II) contribute to exon skipping to different degrees, but the specific molecular mechanism of this aberrant splicing is still unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate the regulatory mechanism underlying two synonymous splicing events, c.1221A > G (p. Glu407Glu) and c.1236G > A (p. Leu412Leu), and to discover a therapeutic strategy for correcting this aberrant splicing by targeting potential regulatory sites. Through a series of RNA pulldown, silver staining, western blotting, small interfering RNA knockdown, in vitro overexpression and single or double site-directed mutagenesis experiments, we first explored the pathogenesis of exon 9 skipping caused by mutations in the CUL3 gene and verified that the main splicing regulators associated with the synonymous c.1221A > G and c.1236G > A mutations were heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins. In addition, we verified that introducing another synonymous mutation, c.1224A > G (A18G), significantly rescued the abnormal splicing caused by c.1221A > G and c.1236G > A, highlighting the therapeutic potential for the treatment of PHA II.

Controlled Epitaxial Growth of (hk1)-Sb2Se3 Film on Cu9S5 Single Crystal via Post-Annealing Treatment for Photodetection Application.

Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) is a promising semiconductor for photodetector applications due to its unique photovoltaic properties. Achieving optimal carrier transport in (001)-Sb2Se3 by the material of contacting substrate requires in-depth study. In this paper, the induced growth of Sb2Se3 films from (hk0) to (hk1) planes is achieved on digenite (Cu9S5) films by post-annealing treatment. The flake-like and flower-like morphologies on the surface of Sb2Se3 films are caused by different thicknesses of the Cu9S5 films, which are related to the (hk0) and (hk1) planes of Sb2Se3 surface. The epitaxial growth of Sb2Se3 films on (105)-Cu9S5 surfaces exhibits thickness dependence. The results inform research into the controlled induced growth of low-dimensional materials. The device of Sb2Se3/Cu9S5/Si has good broadband response (visible to near-infrared), self-powered characteristics, and stability. As the crystalline quality of the Sb2Se3 film increases along the (hk1) plane, the carrier transport is enhanced correspondingly. Under the 980 nm light irradiation, the device has an excellent switching ratio of 2 × 104 at 0 bias, with responsivity, detectivity, and response time up to 17 µA W-1, 1.48 × 107 Jones, and 355/490 µs, respectively. This suggests that Sb2Se3 is suitable for self-powered photodetectors and related optical and optoelectronic devices.

Brassinosteroid signaling regulator BIM1 integrates brassinolide and jasmonic acid signaling during cold tolerance in apple.

Although brassinolide (BR) and jasmonic acid (JA) play essential roles in the regulation of cold stress responses, the molecular basis of their crosstalk remains elusive. Here, we show a key component of BR signaling in apple (Malus × domestica), BR INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1)-EMS-SUPPRESSOR1 (BES1)-INTERACTING MYC-LIKE PROTEIN1 (MdBIM1), increases cold tolerance by directly activating expression of C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR1 (MdCBF1) and forming a complex with C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR2 (MdCBF2) to enhance MdCBF2-activated transcription of cold-responsive genes. Two repressors of JA signaling, JAZMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN1 (MdJAZ1) and JAZMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN2 (MdJAZ2), interact with MdBIM1 to integrate BR and JA signaling under cold stress. MdJAZ1 and MdJAZ2 reduce MdBIM1-promoted cold stress tolerance by attenuating transcriptional activation of MdCBF1 expression by MdBIM1 and interfering with the formation of the MdBIM1-MdCBF2 complex. Furthermore, the E3 ubiquitin ligase ARABIDOPSIS TÓXICOS en LEVADURA73 (MdATL73) decreases MdBIM1-promoted cold tolerance by targeting MdBIM1 for ubiquitination and degradation. Our results not only reveal crosstalk between BR and JA signaling mediated by a JAZ-BIM1-CBF module but also provide insights into the posttranslational regulatory mechanism of BR signaling.

Design methodology for catadioptric zoom panoramic optical systems based on image plane bending matched correction.

Zoom panoramic optical systems incorporate a panoramic peripheral vision zoom imaging function, enabling swift wide-area coarse and localized precise detection. These systems find applicability in examining pipes and other internal structures. This study centers on the catadioptric zoom panoramic optical system and its associated optical design method. A mathematical model of the front mirror was formulated based on the imaging relationship. Subsequently, the bending of the image plane of the front mirror was computed and simplified through curve fitting. The object surface bending of the zoom subsystem was established correspondingly, leveraging the solution for the mirror bending curve matched correction, culminating in deriving the initial structure of the zoom. Integrating the front mirror and zoom subsystems facilitated the comprehensive design realization of the catadioptric zoom panoramic optical system. A catadioptric zoom panoramic optical system was designed to validate the proposed design method. This study introduces a novel, to the best of our knowledge, conceptual approach to crafting catadioptric zoom panoramic optical systems.

Crosstalk in monocentric multiscale systems based on an internal stray light stop suppression method.

Monocentric multi-scale (MMS) systems offer the advantages of a high resolution and wide field of view (FOV). These systems can improve the image resolution with a broad FOV by utilizing the stitching of the detectors. In addition to traditional stray light in optical systems, such as ghost reflection, scattering, and diffraction, the crosstalk between relay lenses cannot be ignored as a type of special stray light. Because of the intersection rays between the multiscale relay lenses in MMS systems, the rays enter the adjacent relay lens, which generates rays that do not belong to the corresponding relay lens in the corresponding image plane. Consequently, this crosstalk stray light affects the imaging contrast of the systems. This study aimed to investigate the crosstalk stray light in MMS systems. A simulation model of the MMS system was established. In the object-imaging process, the characteristic rays of a multiscale relay lens are traced using geometrical optics. Factors affecting the crosstalk stray light were studied in detail. The relationships between different parameters and crosstalk stray light were analyzed. A stray light suppression method is proposed based on incorporating a stray light stop in a monocentric (MC) objective to cut the crosstalk stray rays. The simulation results show that the crosstalk stray light can be effectively eliminated with this method, and the image contrast of the MMS systems is greatly improved.

A novel heterozygous variant of the SALL1 gene with atypical Townes-Brocks syndrome phenotypes in Chinese family.

Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by the triad of anorectal, thumb, and ear malformations. It may also be accompanied by defects in kidney, heart, eyes, hearing, and feet. TBS has been demonstrated to result from heterozygous variants in the SALL1 gene, which encodes zinc finger protein believed to function as a transcriptional repressor. The clinical characteristics of an atypical TBS phenotype patient from a Chinese family are described, with predominant manifestations including external ear dysplasia, unilateral renal hypoplasia with mild renal dysfunction, and hearing impairment. A novel heterozygous variant c.3060T>A (p.Tyr1020*) in exon 2 of the SALL1 gene was identified in this proband. Pyrosequencing of the complementary DNA of the proband revealed that the variant transcript accounted for 48% of the total transcripts in peripheral leukocytes, indicating that this variant transcript has not undergone nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. This variant c.3060T > A is located at the terminal end of exon 2, proximal to the 3' end of the SALL1 gene, and exerts a relatively minor impact on protein function. We suggest that the atypical TBS phenotype observed in the proband may be attributed to the truncated protein retaining partial SALL1 function.

Identified eleven exon variants in PKD1 and PKD2 genes that altered RNA splicing by minigene assay.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common monogenic multisystem disease caused primarily by mutations in the PKD1 gene or PKD2 gene. There is increasing evidence that some of these variants, which are described as missense, synonymous or nonsense mutations in the literature or databases, may be deleterious by affecting the pre-mRNA splicing process. RESULTS: This study aimed to determine the effect of these PKD1 and PKD2 variants on exon splicing combined with predictive bioinformatics tools and minigene assay. As a result, among the 19 candidate single nucleotide alterations, 11 variants distributed in PKD1 (c.7866C > A, c.7960A > G, c.7979A > T, c.7987C > T, c.11248C > G, c.11251C > T, c.11257C > G, c.11257C > T, c.11346C > T, and c.11393C > G) and PKD2 (c.1480G > T) were identified to result in exon skipping. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that 11 variants in the gene of PKD1 and PKD2 affect normal splicing by interfering the recognition of classical splicing sites or by disrupting exon splicing enhancers and generating exon splicing silencers. This is the most comprehensive study to date on pre-mRNA splicing of exonic variants in ADPKD-associated disease-causing genes in consideration of the increasing number of identified variants in PKD1 and PKD2 gene in recent years. These results emphasize the significance of assessing the effect of exon single nucleotide variants in ADPKD at the mRNA level.

The pear genomics database (PGDB): a comprehensive multi-omics research platform for Pyrus spp.

BACKGROUND: Pears are among the most important temperate fruit trees in the world, with significant research efforts increasing over the last years. However, available omics data for pear cannot be easily and quickly retrieved to enable further studies using these biological data. DESCRIPTION: Here, we present a publicly accessible multi-omics pear resource platform, the Pear Genomics Database (PGDB). We collected and collated data on genomic sequences, genome structure, functional annotation, transcription factor predictions, comparative genomics, and transcriptomics. We provide user-friendly functional modules to facilitate querying, browsing and usage of these data. The platform also includes basic and useful tools, including JBrowse, BLAST, phylogenetic tree building, and additional resources providing the possibility for bulk data download and quick usage guide services. CONCLUSIONS: The Pear Genomics Database (PGDB, http://pyrusgdb.sdau.edu.cn ) is an online data analysis and query resource that integrates comprehensive multi-omics data for pear. This database is equipped with user-friendly interactive functional modules and data visualization tools, and constitutes a convenient platform for integrated research on pear.

E3 ubiquitin ligases SINA4 and SINA11 regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis by targeting the IAA29-ARF5-1-ERF3 module in apple.

Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA) and auxin response factor (ARF) proteins are important components of the auxin signalling pathway, but their ubiquitination modification and the mechanism of auxin-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis remain elusive. Here, the ARF MdARF5-1 was identified as a negative regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple, and it integrates auxin and ethylene signals by inhibiting the expression of the ethylene response factor MdERF3. The auxin repressor MdIAA29 decreased the inhibitory effect of MdARF5-1 on anthocyanin biosynthesis by attenuating the transcriptional inhibition of MdERF3 by MdARF5-1. In addition, the E3 ubiquitin ligases MdSINA4 and MdSINA11 played negative and positive regulatory roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis by targeting MdIAA29 and MdARF5-1 for ubiquitination degradation, respectively. MdSINA4 destabilized MdSINA11 to regulate anthocyanin accumulation in response to auxin signalling. In sum, our data revealed the crosstalk between auxin and ethylene signals mediated by the IAA29-ARF5-1-ERF3 module and provide new insights into the ubiquitination modification of the auxin signalling pathway.

Genome Mining and Biosynthetic Reconstitution of Fungal Depsidone Mollicellins Reveal a Dual Functional Cytochrome P450 for Ether Formation.

Depsidones are significant in structural diversity and broad in biological activities; however, their biosynthetic pathways have not been well understood and have attracted considerable attention. Herein, we heterologously reconstituted a depsidone encoding gene cluster from Ovatospora sp. SCSIO SY280D in Aspergillus nidulans A1145, leading to production of mollicellins, a representative family of depsidones, and discovering a bifunctional P450 monooxygenase that catalyzes both ether formation and hydroxylation in the biosynthesis of the mollicellins. The functions of a decarboxylase and an aromatic prenyltransferase are also characterized to understand the tailoring modification steps. This work provides important insights into the biosynthesis of mollicellins.

Panoramic annular image restoration algorithm by prediction based on the lens design characteristics.

A panoramic annular lens optical system is important in circumferential detection. However, a panoramic annular image (PAI) has severe tangential and radial distortion. This study proposes a 3σ guideline-based method, which determines the unwrapping center point of the PAI, and a prediction method based on the lens design characteristics according to the intrinsic distortion of the PAL to correct, respectively, the tangential distortion and the radial distortion. The proposed methods can ensure the restoration ability and simplify the dependence on experimental conditions. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method, thus enabling future panoramic optical image detection.

Analysis and design of a microlens array scanning system based on spherical aberration.

The microlens array (MLA) scanning system is a relatively new solution for beam scanning. The excrescent light generated by overlapping divergent beams from adjacent microlenses increases with the scanning angle, and as a result, the rays do not fill the clear aperture of the MLA. The effect on the detection distance and imaging resolution of the MLA system are analyzed. Based on the principle of minimum spherical aberration, a design method for initial configuration of the MLA system is proposed. The findings of this paper can be beneficial for the design and evaluation of MLA systems.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase SINA1 and the protein kinase BIN2 cooperatively regulate PHR1 in apple anthocyanin biosynthesis.

PHR1 (PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1) plays key roles in the inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation response and in Pi deficiency-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants. However, the post-translational regulation of PHR1 is unclear, and the molecular basis of PHR1-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis remains elusive. In this study, we determined that MdPHR1 was essential for Pi deficiency-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple (Malus × domestica). MdPHR1 interacted with MdWRKY75, a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis, to enhance the MdWRKY75-activated transcription of MdMYB1, leading to anthocyanin accumulation. In addition, the E3 ubiquitin ligase SEVEN IN ABSENTIA1 (MdSINA1) negatively regulated MdPHR1-promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis via the ubiquitination-mediated degradation of MdPHR1. Moreover, the protein kinase apple BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE2 (MdBIN2) phosphorylated MdPHR1 and positively regulated MdPHR1-mediated anthocyanin accumulation by attenuating the MdSINA1-mediated ubiquitination degradation of MdPHR1. Taken together, these findings not only demonstrate the regulatory role of MdPHR1 in Pi starvation induced anthocyanin accumulation, but also provide an insight into the post-translational regulation of PHR1.

Comparison of HIV DNA decay and immune recovery between early and chronic HIV-infected individuals 96 weeks after ART.

OBJECTIVES: Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has prolonged the lives of HIV-infected individuals, HIV reservoir remains the main stumbling block to HIV cure. Presently, early ART initiation is one of the effective measures to reduce the HIV reservoir. The effects of ART in Chinese individuals with acute and early HIV infection (AEHI) and chronic HIV infection (CHI) were analyzed in this study. METHODS: We performed virological and immunological parameter analysis in 29 AEHI and 19 CHI individuals who were initiated into ART in Beijing, China. The HIV DNA, CD4+ T-cell and CD8+ T-cell counts, and CD4/CD8 ratios between the two groups were compared using statistical analyses. RESULTS: At weeks 48 and 96, the total HIV DNA was significantly lower in the AEHI group than that the CHI group (2.48 [2.26-2.66] vs. 3.06 [2.79-3.33] log10 copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), p < 0.01 at week 48 and 2.17 [1.85-2.45] vs. 2.92 [2.73-3.24] log10 copies/106  PBMCs, p < 0.01 at week 96, respectively). The CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio in the AHI group at week 24 was significantly higher than that in the CHI group (0.71 [0.50-0.99] vs. 0.45 [0.34-0.65], p = 0.08). After 48 weeks of ART, there was still a negative correlation between the CD4/CD8 ratio and the HIV DNA level in the CHI group rather than the AEHI group. CONCLUSIONS: Early ART initiation could enhance an earlier immunological recovery in AEHI. Immunological normalization after ART initiation could provide important protection against the viral reservoir seeded in AEHI individuals.

Diversity and distribution of culturable fouling bacteria in typical mariculture zones in Daya Bay, South China.

The diversity and distribution of culturable fouling bacteria in shellfish, fish and non-mariculture zones in Daya Bay were investigated by using a traditional culture-dependent approach combined with an analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences. A total of 129 isolates of fouling bacteria belonging to 37 species in 25 genera were collected and identified, which indicated that the three different mariculture zones harbored abundant and diverse fouling bacterial community. At the genus level, Pseudomonas, Arcobacter and Curtobacterium dominated the fouling bacterial community. Moreover, approximately 46% of the 37 representative isolates could form biofilms. After comparing the diversity and distribution of the biofilm-forming bacteria in three different mariculture zones, it was concluded that the ratios of biofilm-forming bacteria in shellfish (68.4%) and fish (63.4%) in mariculture zones were much greater than those in non-mariculture (42.0%) zone. These results provide important information, for the first time, regarding the fouling bacterial community in typical mariculture zones in South China, which will establish a foundation to develop strategies for biofilm control and disease defense.

Mathematical modeling and experimental verification of aging human eyes polarization sensitivity.

The polarization perception sensitivity of the human eyes affects the perceived polarized image quality. In this paper, we used polarized spatiotemporal structured images to develop a spatiotemporal age mapping of the polarization perception of human eyes. We built an optical modulation transfer function mathematical model of the aging human eyes with spatiotemporal frequency domains and introduced the Stokes vector to analyze the polarized images. The proposed model provides a testing method based on a set of polarization images with spatiotemporal frequencies varying according to the perception of differently aged viewers. Then, we experimentally validated the proposed model by performing polarization perception tests on a group of volunteers. The test method has the diagnostic potential to confirm the health of human eyes and identify potential age-related macular diseases.

Power Tower Inspection Simultaneous Localization and Mapping: A Monocular Semantic Positioning Approach for UAV Transmission Tower Inspection.

Realizing autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inspection is of great significance for power line maintenance. This paper introduces a scheme of using the structure of a tower to realize visual geographical positioning of UAV for tower inspection and presents a monocular semantic simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) framework termed PTI-SLAM (power tower inspection SLAM) to cope with the challenge of a tower inspection scene. The proposed scheme utilizes prior knowledge of tower component geolocation and regards geographical positioning as the estimation of transformation between SLAM and the geographic coordinates. To accomplish the robust positioning and semi-dense semantic mapping with limited computing power, PTI-SLAM combines the feature-based SLAM method with a fusion-based direct method and conveys a loosely coupled architecture of a semantic task and a SLAM task. The fusion-based direct method is specially designed to overcome the fragility of the direct method against adverse conditions concerning the inspection scene. Experiment results show that PTI-SLAM inherits the robustness advantage of the feature-based method and the semi-dense mapping ability of the direct method and achieves decimeter-level real-time positioning in the airborne system. The experiment concerning geographical positioning indicates more competitive accuracy compared to the previous visual approach and artificial UAV operating, demonstrating the potential of PTI-SLAM.