Insertion of a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element into the promoter of OsTCP4 results in more tillers and a lower grain size in rice.

A class I PCF type protein, TCP4, was identified as a transcription factor associated with both grain size and tillering through a DNA pull-down-MS assay combined with a genome-wide association study. This transcription factor was found to have a significant role in the variations among the 533 rice accessions, dividing them into two main subspecies. A Tourist-like miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) was discovered in the promoter of TCP4 in japonica/geng accessions (TCP4M+), which was found to suppress the expression of TCP4 at the transcriptional level. The MITE-deleted haplotype (TCP4M-) was mainly found in indica/xian accessions. ChIP-qPCR and EMSA demonstrated the binding of TCP4 to promoters of grain reservoir genes such as SSIIa and Amy3D in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The introduction of the genomic sequence of TCP4M+ into different TCP4M- cultivars was found to affect the expression of TCP4 in the transgenic rice, resulting in decreased expression of its downstream target gene SSIIa, increased tiller number, and decreased seed length. This study revealed that a Tourist-like MITE contributes to subspecies divergence by regulating the expression of TCP4 in response to environmental pressure, thus influencing source-sink balance by regulating starch biosynthesis in rice.

DcERF109 regulates shoot branching by participating in strigolactone signal transduction in Dendrobium catenatum.

Shoot branching fundamentally influences plant architecture and agricultural yield. However, research on shoot branching in Dendrobium catenatum, an endangered medicinal plant in China, remains limited. In this study, we identified a transcription factor DcERF109 as a key player in shoot branching by regulating the expression of strigolactone (SL) receptors DWARF 14 (D14)/ DECREASED APICAL DOMINANCE 2 (DAD2). The treatment of D. catenatum seedlings with GR24rac/TIS108 revealed that SL can significantly repress the shoot branching in D. catenatum. The expression of DcERF109 in multi-branched seedlings is significantly higher than that of single-branched seedlings. Ectopic expression in Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that overexpression of DcERF109 resulted in significant shoot branches increasing and dwarfing. Molecular and biochemical assays demonstrated that DcERF109 can directly bind to the promoters of AtD14 and DcDAD2.2 to inhibit their expression, thereby positively regulating shoot branching. Inhibition of DcERF109 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) resulted in decreased shoot branching and improved DcDAD2.2 expression. Moreover, overexpression of DpERF109 in A. thaliana, the homologous gene of DcERF109 in Dendrobium primulinum, showed similar phenotypes to DcERF109 in shoot branch and plant height. Collectively, these findings shed new insights into the regulation of plant shoot branching and provide a theoretical basis for improving the yield of D. catenatum.

The correlation between serum angiopoietin-2 levels and acute kidney injury (AKI): a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The correlation between serum angiopoietin-2 levels and acute kidney injury (AKI) is a topic of significant clinical interest. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of this relationship. CONTENT: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to October 11, 2023. The included studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Weighted mean differences (WMD) and odds ratios (OR) were calculated using random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis, funnel plots, and Egger's test were used to assess the robustness and publication bias of the findings. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore potential variations between adults and children. SUMMARY: Eighteen studies encompassing a total of 7,453 participants were included. The analysis revealed a significant elevation in serum angiopoietin-2 levels in patients with AKI compared to those without (WMD: 4.85; 95 % CI: 0.75 to 0.27; I²=93.2 %, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated significantly higher angiopoietin-2 levels in adults with AKI (WMD: 5.17; 95 % CI: 3.51 to 6.83; I²=82.6 %, p<0.001), but not in children. Additionally, high serum angiopoietin-2 levels were associated with an increased risk of AKI (OR: 1.58; 95 % CI: 1.39 to 1.8; I²=89.1 %, p<0.001). Sensitivity analysis validated the robustness of these results, showing no substantial change in the overall effect size upon the exclusion of individual studies. OUTLOOK: This meta-analysis supports a significant association between elevated serum angiopoietin-2 levels and increased risk of AKI. The observed differential association between adults and children highlights the need for further targeted research to understand these age-specific variations.

Genome sequence of the progenitor of wheat A subgenome Triticum urartu.

Triticum urartu (diploid, AA) is the progenitor of the A subgenome of tetraploid (Triticum turgidum, AABB) and hexaploid (Triticum aestivum, AABBDD) wheat1,2. Genomic studies of T. urartu have been useful for investigating the structure, function and evolution of polyploid wheat genomes. Here we report the generation of a high-quality genome sequence of T. urartu by combining bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-by-BAC sequencing, single molecule real-time whole-genome shotgun sequencing 3 , linked reads and optical mapping4,5. We assembled seven chromosome-scale pseudomolecules and identified protein-coding genes, and we suggest a model for the evolution of T. urartu chromosomes. Comparative analyses with genomes of other grasses showed gene loss and amplification in the numbers of transposable elements in the T. urartu genome. Population genomics analysis of 147 T. urartu accessions from across the Fertile Crescent showed clustering of three groups, with differences in altitude and biostress, such as powdery mildew disease. The T. urartu genome assembly provides a valuable resource for studying genetic variation in wheat and related grasses, and promises to facilitate the discovery of genes that could be useful for wheat improvement.

Identification and Functional Analysis of KH Family Genes Associated with Salt Stress in Rice.

Salinity stress has a great impact on crop growth and productivity and is one of the major factors responsible for crop yield losses. The K-homologous (KH) family proteins play vital roles in regulating plant development and responding to abiotic stress in plants. However, the systematic characterization of the KH family in rice is still lacking. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and functional analysis of KH family genes and identified a total of 31 KH genes in rice. According to the homologs of KH genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, we constructed a phylogenetic tree with 61 KH genes containing 31 KH genes in Oryza sativa and 30 KH genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and separated them into three major groups. In silico tissue expression analysis showed that the OsKH genes are constitutively expressed. The qRT-PCR results revealed that eight OsKH genes responded strongly to salt stresses, and OsKH12 exhibited the strongest decrease in expression level, which was selected for further study. We generated the Oskh12-knockout mutant via the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing method. Further stress treatment and biochemical assays confirmed that Oskh12 mutant was more salt-sensitive than Nip and the expression of several key salt-tolerant genes in Oskh12 was significantly reduced. Taken together, our results shed light on the understanding of the KH family and provide a theoretical basis for future abiotic stress studies in rice.

Graph-|Q⟩⟨C|: A Quantum Algorithm with Reduced Quantum Circuit Depth for Electronic Structure.

The accurate determination of chemical properties is known to have a critical impact on multiple fundamental chemical problems but is deeply hindered by the steep algebraic scaling of electron correlation calculations and the exponential scaling of quantum nuclear dynamics. With the advent of new quantum computing hardware and associated developments in creating new paradigms for quantum software, this avenue has been recognized as perhaps one way to address exponentially complex challenges in quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics. In this paper, we discuss a new approach to drastically reduce the quantum circuit depth (by several orders of magnitude) and help improve the accuracy in the quantum computation of electron correlation energies for large molecular systems. The method is derived from a graph-theoretic approach to molecular fragmentation and enables us to create a family of projection operators that decompose quantum circuits into separate unitary processes. Some of these processes can be treated on quantum hardware and others on classical hardware in a completely asynchronous and parallel fashion. Numerical benchmarks are provided through the computation of unitary coupled-cluster singles and doubles (UCCSD) energies for medium-sized protonated and neutral water clusters using the new quantum algorithms presented here.

A Photosensitizer-Loaded Polydopamine Nanomedicine Agent for Synergistic Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have emerged as promising non-invasive approaches to cancer treatment. However, the development of multifunctional nanomedicines is necessary to enhance these approaches' effectiveness and safety. In this study, we investigated a polydopamine-based nanoparticle (PDA-ZnPc+ Nps) loaded with the efficient photosensitizer ZnPc(4TAP)12+ (ZnPc+) through in vitro and in vivo experiments to achieve synergistic PDT and PTT. Our results demonstrated that PDA-ZnPc+ Nps exhibited remarkable efficacy due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), induce photothermal effects, and promote apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, in both MCF-7 cells and MCF-7 tumor-bearing mice, the combined PDT/PTT treatment with PDA-ZnPc+ Nps led to synergistic effects. Subcellular localization analysis revealed a high accumulation of ZnPc+ in the cytoplasm of cancer cells, resulting in cellular disruption and vacuolation following synergistic PDT/PTT. Furthermore, PDA-ZnPc+ Nps exhibited significant antitumor effects without causing evident systemic damage in vivo, enabling the use of lower doses of photosensitizer and ensuring safer treatment. Our study not only highlights the potential of PDA-ZnPc+ Nps as a dual-functional anticancer agent combining PDA and PTT but also offers a strategy for mitigating the side effects associated with clinical photosensitizers, particularly dark toxicity.

Molecular and Functional Analysis of Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase Genes Enhancing Salt Tolerance in Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl.

Trehalose is a reducing disaccharide, acting as a protectant against various environmental stresses in numerous organisms. In plants, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) plays a crucial role in trehalose biosynthesis. Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. is a prominent species of the Anoectochilus genus, widely utilized as a health food. However, the functional analysis of TPS in this species has been limited. In this study, TPS genes were cloned from A. roxburghii. The ArTPS gene, with an open reading frame spanning 2850 bp, encodes 950 amino acids. Comparative and bioinformatics analysis revealed that the homology was presented between the ArTPS protein and TPSs from other plant species. The ORF sequence was utilized to construct a prokaryotic expression vector, Pet28a-ArTPS, which was then transformed into Escherichia coli. The resulting transformants displayed a significant increase in salt tolerance under the stress conditions of 300 mmol/L NaCl. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of ArTPS genes responded to NaCl stress. The accumulation of G6P was upregulated, whereas the content of T6P exhibited an opposite expression trend. The glycometabolism products, including trehalose, exhibited notable changes under NaCl stress, although their variations may differ in response to stimulation. The content of kinsenoside, a characteristic product of A. roxburghii, was significantly upregulated under NaCl stress. These results suggest that the ArTPS genes function in response to NaCl stimulation and play a key role in polysaccharide and glycoside metabolism in Anoectochilus. This study provides new insights into the engineering modification of the health food A. roxburghii to enhance the medicinal activity of its ingredients.

Resective epilepsy surgery in tuberous sclerosis complex: a nationwide multicentre retrospective study from China.

At least 50% of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex present with intractable epilepsy; for these patients, resective surgery is a treatment option. Here, we report a nationwide multicentre retrospective study and analyse the long-term seizure and neuropsychological outcomes of epilepsy surgery in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. There were 364 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery in the study. Patients' clinical data, postoperative seizure outcomes at 1-, 4-, and 10-year follow-ups, preoperative and postoperative intelligence quotients, and quality of life at 1-year follow-up were collected. The patients' ages at surgery were 10.35 ± 7.70 years (range: 0.5-47). The percentage of postoperative seizure freedom was 71% (258/364) at 1-year, 60% (118/196) at 4-year, and 51% (36/71) at 10-year follow-up. Influence factors of postoperative seizure freedom were the total removal of epileptogenic tubers and the presence of outstanding tuber on MRI at 1- and 4-year follow-ups. Furthermore, monthly seizure (versus daily seizure) was also a positive influence factor for postoperative seizure freedom at 1-year follow-up. The presence of an outstanding tuber on MRI was the only factor influencing seizure freedom at 10-year follow-up. Postoperative quality of life and intelligence quotient improvements were found in 43% (112/262) and 28% (67/242) of patients, respectively. Influence factors of postoperative quality of life and intelligence quotient improvement were postoperative seizure freedom and preoperative low intelligence quotient. The percentage of seizure freedom in the tuberectomy group was significantly lower compared to the tuberectomy plus and lobectomy groups at 1- and 4-year follow-ups. In conclusion, this study, the largest nationwide multi-centre study on resective epilepsy surgery, resulted in improved seizure outcomes and quality of life and intelligence quotient improvements in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Seizure freedom was often achieved in patients with an outstanding tuber on MRI, total removal of epileptogenic tubers, and tuberectomy plus. Quality of life and intelligence quotient improvements were frequently observed in patients with postoperative seizure freedom and preoperative low intelligence quotient.

Giant spontaneous exchange bias obtained by tuning magnetic compensation in samarium ferrite single crystals.

Spontaneous exchange bias (SEB) under zero field cooling (ZFC) has recently attracted lots of attention due to its underlying physics and potential applications. Here we report the giant SEB (GSEB) of SmFeO3 single crystals by tuning magnetic compensation by temperature, which is rather convenient. A SEB field of up to 1 T at 3.9 K after ZFC (-1.4 T at 3.9 K after field cooling) was obtained. The SEB shows reciprocal relationship with remnant magnetization.

Piezoluminescence from ferroelectric Ca3Ti2O7:Pr3+ long-persistent phosphor.

A variety of up-and-coming applications of piezoluminescence in artificial skins, structural health diagnosis, and mechano-driven lightings and displays recently have triggered an intense research effort to design and develop new piezoluminescent materials. In this work, we deduced and verified an efficient piezoluminescence in ferroelectric Ca3Ti2O7:Pr3+ long-persistent phosphor, in view of three fundamental elements forming piezoluminescence - piezoelectricity, luminescent centers and carrier traps. Under the stimulation of mechanical actions including compression and friction, Ca3Ti2O7:Pr3+ shows an intense red emission from 1D2-3H4 transition of Pr3+. On the basis of investigations on structural and optical characteristics especially photoluminescence, persistent luminescence and thermoluminescence, we finally proposed a possible piezoluminescent mechanism in Ca3Ti2O7:Pr3+. Our research is expected to expand the horizon of existing piezoluminescent materials, accelerating the development and application of new materials.

Multicolor Tuning in Room-Temperature Self-Activated Ca2 Nb2 O7 Submicroplates by Lanthanide Doping.

Self-activated phosphors are capable of generating optical emissions from the internal ion groups of host lattice before externally introducing luminescent ions. However, numerous self-activated phosphors only show luminescence at low temperature due to the thermally activated energy migration among ion groups at room temperature, severely confining their application conditions. In this letter, we propose a strategy to converting the low-temperature luminescence to a room-temperature one through changing the synthesis conditions to induce structural distortions and thus to limit energy migration. Room-temperature self-activated luminescence of Ca2 Nb2 O7 was accordingly achieved in submicroplates synthesized using the sol-gel method. By further coupling the blue broadband emission from Ca2 Nb2 O7 submicroplates with the characteristic luminescence of Ln3+ (Pr3+ , Sm3+ , and Dy3+ ) dopants, multicolor emissions were successively tuned through adjusting the concentration of Ln3+ . Our results are expected to expand the scope of designing room-temperature self-activated phosphors and tuning multicolor emission.

Single-molecule real-time transcript sequencing facilitates common wheat genome annotation and grain transcriptome research.

BACKGROUND: The large and complex hexaploid genome has greatly hindered genomics studies of common wheat (Triticum aestivum, AABBDD). Here, we investigated transcripts in common wheat developing caryopses using the emerging single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology PacBio RSII, and assessed the resultant data for improving common wheat genome annotation and grain transcriptome research. RESULTS: We obtained 197,709 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) reads, 74.6 % of which were estimated to carry complete open reading frame. A total of 91,881 high-quality FLNC reads were identified and mapped to 16,188 chromosomal loci, corresponding to 13,162 known genes and 3026 new genes not annotated previously. Although some FLNC reads could not be unambiguously mapped to the current draft genome sequence, many of them are likely useful for studying highly similar homoeologous or paralogous loci or for improving chromosomal contig assembly in further research. The 91,881 high-quality FLNC reads represented 22,768 unique transcripts, 9591 of which were newly discovered. We found 180 transcripts each spanning two or three previously annotated adjacent loci, suggesting that they should be merged to form correct gene models. Finally, our data facilitated the identification of 6030 genes differentially regulated during caryopsis development, and full-length transcripts for 72 transcribed gluten gene members that are important for the end-use quality control of common wheat. CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrated the value of PacBio transcript sequencing for improving common wheat genome annotation through uncovering the loci and full-length transcripts not discovered previously. The resource obtained may aid further structural genomics and grain transcriptome studies of common wheat.

Electrical conduction mechanism of an individual polypyrrole nanowire at low temperatures.

Conducting polypyrrole (PPY) nanowires doped with p-toluene sulfonamide (PTSA) were synthesized by a template-free self-assembly method. Electrical transport characteristics, i.e. current-voltage (I-V) behavior, of an individual PPY/PTSA nanowire have been explored in a wide temperature range from 300 down to 40 K. The fitting results of I-V curves indicated that the electrical conduction mechanism can be explained by the space-charge-limited current (SCLC) theory from 300 down to 100 K. In this temperature range, traps play an important role for this non-crystalline system. The corresponding trap energy and trap concentration have also been calculated based on the SCLC theory. Interestingly, there is no trap at 160 K, different from other temperatures. The obtained carrier mobility for the polymer nanowires is 0.964 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) on the basis of trap free SCLC theory. In the temperature range of 80-40 K, little current can flow through the nanowire especially at lower voltages, however, the current follows the equation I ∞ (V/Vt-1)(ζ) at higher bias, which could be attributed to Coulomb blockade effect. Additionally, the differential conductance dI/dV curves also show some clear Coulomb oscillations.

Identification of ERF genes in peanuts and functional analysis of AhERF008 and AhERF019 in abiotic stress response.

Ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) play an important role in regulating gene expression in plant development and response to stresses. In peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), which produce flowers aerially and pods underground, only a few ERF genes have been identified so far. This study identifies 63 ERF unigenes from 247,313 peanut EST sequences available in the NCBI database. The phylogeny, gene structures, and putative conserved motifs in the peanut ERF proteins were analysed. Comparative analysis revealed the absence of two subgroups (A1 and A3) of the ERF family in peanuts; only 10 subgroups were identified in peanuts compared to 12 subgroups in Arabidopsis and soybeans. AP2/ERF domains were found to be conserved among peanuts, Arabidopsis, and soybeans. Outside the AP2/ERF domain, many soybean-specific conserved motifs were also detected in peanuts. The expression analysis of ERF family genes representing each clade revealed differential expression patterns in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Overexpression of AhERF008 influenced the root gravity of Arabidopsis, whereas overexpression of AhERF019 enhanced tolerance to drought, heat, and salt stresses in Arabidopsis. The information generated in this study will be helpful to further investigate the function of ERFs in plant development and stress response.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of an endemic species in China, Aulocera merlina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) and phylogenetic analysis within Satyrinae.

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been extensively used as molecular markers in determining the insect phylogenetic relationships. In order to resolve the relationships among tribes and subtribes of Satyrinae at the mitochondrial genomic level, we obtained the complete mitogenome of Aulocera merlina (Oberthür, 1890) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) with a size of 15,259 bp. The mitogenome consisted of 37 typical genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and an A + T-rich region. The gene organization and arrangement were similar to those of all other known Satyrinae mitogenomes. All PCGs were initiated with the canonical codon pattern ATN, except for the cox1 gene, which used an atypical CGA codon. Nine PCGs used the complete stop codon TAA, while the remaining PCGs (cox1, cox2, nad4, and nad5) were terminated with a single T nucleotide. The canonical cloverleaf secondary structures were found in all tRNAs, except for trnS1 which lacked a dihydrouridine arm. The 448 bp A + T-rich region was located between rrnS and trnM, and it included the motif ATAGA followed by a 19-bp poly-T stretch and a microsatellite-like (TA)6 element preceded by the ATTTA motif. The phylogenetic tree, inferred using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods, generated similar tree topologies, revealing well-supported monophyletic groups at the tribe level and recovering the relationship ((Satyrini + Melanitini) + ((Amathusiini + Elymniini) + Zetherini)). The close relationship between Satyrina and Melanargiina within the Satyrini was widely accepted. Additionally, Lethina, Parargina, and Mycalesina were closely related and collectively formed a sister group to Coenonymphina. Moreover, A. merlina was closely related to Oeneis buddha within the Satyrina. These findings will provide valuable information for future studies aiming to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Satyrinae.

Huayuwendan decoction ameliorates inflammation via IL-17/NF-κB signaling pathway in diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Huayuwendan decoction (HYWD) is a broad used traditional Chinese medicine and therapeutic effects against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism of HYWD on the treatment of T2DM is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: For this reason, this study was performed to uncover the effects and mechanism of action of HYWD on T2DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were chosen to set up the T2DM model. This study was randomly divided into six groups: CON (control), MOD (model), HYWDL (Huayuwendan decoction Low Dose), HYWDM (Huayuwendan decoction Middle Dose), HYWDH (Huayuwendan decoction High Dose), and MET (Metformin). Body weight gains were estimated. Using H&E staining, pathological alterations was explored. The serums of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PG) were detected by Roche blood glucose meter. LDL-C and HDL-C were analyzed by automatic biochemical analyzer. Network pharmacology analyzed the active ingredients, drug targets, and key pathways of HYWD in T2DM treatment. The islet function and inflammation related factors were determined by ELISA. NF-κB signaling pathway or IL-17 signaling pathway related proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. IL-17RA were determined by immunohistochemistry analyze. RESULTS: HYWD inhibited weight gain in T2DM rats. Histopathological results showed that HYWD inhibits liver injury. HYWD suppressed LDL-C and enhanced HDL-C in serum of T2DM rats. HYWD reduce FPG and 2 h PG, inhibit Fins, GSP and IRI, but enhance IAI in serum of T2DM rats. In addition, the network pharmacology results identified 292 chemical compounds in HYWD. 279 candidate targets were recognized, including IL-17A, IL-1ß, NFкB, stats, mmp3, and cxcl2. The pathways revealed that the possible target of HYWD related with the regulation of IL-17 signaling pathway and NF-κB pathway. Then in vivo study, HYWD reduced the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-1ß in serum and inhibit the protein expression involved in IL-17/NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that HYWD may improve T2DM by repressing with the IL-17/NF-κB signaling pathway, which offer encouraging support for using alternative medicine of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The OsCLV2s-OsCRN1 co-receptor regulates grain shape in rice.

The highly conserved CLV-WUS negative feedback pathway plays a decisive role in regulating stem cell maintenance in shoot and floral meristems in higher plants, including Arabidopsis, rice, maize, and tomato. Here, we find significant natural variations in the OsCLV2c, OsCLV2d, and OsCRN1 loci in a genome-wide association study of grain shape in rice. OsCLV2a, OsCLV2c, OsCLV2d, and OsCRN1 negatively regulate grain length-width ratio and show distinctive geographical distribution, indica-japonica differentiation, and artificial selection signatures. Notably, OsCLV2a and OsCRN1 interact biochemically and genetically, suggesting that the two components function in a complex to regulate grain shape of rice. Furthermore, the genetic contributions of the haplotypes combining OsCLV2a, OsCLV2c, and OsCRN1 are significantly higher than those of each single gene alone in controlling key yield traits. These findings identify two groups of receptor-like kinases that may function as distinct co-receptors to control grain size in rice, thereby revealing a previously unrecognized role of the CLV class genes in regulating seed development and proposing a framework to understand the molecular mechanisms of the CLV-WUS pathway in rice and other crops.

Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals the Global Molecular Responses and NAC Transcription Factors Involved in Drought Stress in Dendrobium catenatum.

Dendrobium catenatum is a highly drought-tolerant herb, which usually grows on cliffs or in the branches of trees, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms for its tolerance remain poorly understood. We conducted a comprehensive study utilizing whole-transcriptome sequencing approaches to investigate the molecular response to extreme drought stress in D. catenatum. A large number of differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs have been identified, and the NAC transcription factor family was highly enriched. Meanwhile, 46 genes were significantly up-regulated in the ABA-activated signaling pathway. In addition to the 89 NAC family members accurately identified in this study, 32 members were found to have different expressions between the CK and extreme drought treatment. They may regulate drought stress through both ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways. Moreover, the 32 analyzed differentially expressed DcNACs were found to be predominantly expressed in the floral organs and roots. The ceRNA regulatory network showed that DcNAC87 is at the core of the ceRNA network and is regulated by miR169, miR393, and four lncRNAs. These investigations provided valuable information on the role of NAC transcription factors in D. catenatum's response to drought stress.

Dynamic multicolor emissions of multimodal phosphors by Mn2+ trace doping in self-activated CaGa4O7.

The manipulation of excitation modes and resultant emission colors in luminescent materials holds pivotal importance for encrypting information in anti-counterfeiting applications. Despite considerable achievements in multimodal and multicolor luminescent materials, existing options generally suffer from static monocolor emission under fixed external stimulation, rendering them vulnerability to replication. Achieving dynamic multimodal luminescence within a single material presents a promising yet challenging solution. Here, we report the development of a phosphor exhibiting dynamic multicolor photoluminescence (PL) and photo-thermo-mechanically responsive multimodal emissions through the incorporation of trace Mn2+ ions into a self-activated CaGa4O7 host. The resulting phosphor offers adjustable emission-color changing rates, controllable via re-excitation intervals and photoexcitation powers. Additionally, it demonstrates temperature-induced color reversal and anti-thermal-quenched emission, alongside reproducible elastic mechanoluminescence (ML) characterized by high mechanical durability. Theoretical calculations elucidate electron transfer pathways dominated by intrinsic interstitial defects and vacancies for dynamic multicolor emission. Mn2+ dopants serve a dual role in stabilizing nearby defects and introducing additional defect levels, enabling flexible multi-responsive luminescence. This developed phosphor facilitates evolutionary color/pattern displays in both temporal and spatial dimensions using readily available tools, offering significant promise for dynamic anticounterfeiting displays and multimode sensing applications.