Transcriptome analysis in Malus halliana roots in response to iron deficiency reveals insight into sugar regulation.

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a frequent nutritional problem limiting apple production in calcareous soils. The utilization of rootstock that is resistant to Fe deficiency is an effective way to solve this problem. Malus halliana is an Fe deficiency-tolerant rootstock; however, few molecular studies have been conducted on M. halliana. In the present work, a transcriptome analysis was combined with qRT-PCR and sugar measurements to investigate Fe deficiency responses in M. halliana roots at 0 h (T1), 12 h (T2) and 72 h (T3) after Fe deficiency stress. Total of 2473, 661, and 776 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the pairs of T2 vs. T1, T3 vs. T1, and T3 vs. T2, respectively. Several DEGs were enriched in the photosynthesis, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, tyrosine metabolism and fatty acid degradation pathways. The glycolysis and photosynthesis pathways were upregulated under Fe deficiency. In this experiment, sucrose accumulated in Fe-deficient roots and leaves. However, the glucose content significantly decreased in the roots, while the fructose content significantly decreased in the leaves. Additionally, 15 genes related to glycolysis and sugar synthesis and sugar transport were selected to validate the accuracy of the transcriptome data by qRT-PCR. Overall, these results indicated that sugar synthesis and metabolism in the roots were affected by Fe deficiency. Sugar regulation is a way by which M. halliana responds to Fe deficiency stress.

Transcriptional and physiological analyses of short-term Iron deficiency response in apple seedlings provide insight into the regulation involved in photosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plants. Utilization of Fe deficiency-tolerant rootstock is an effective strategy to prevent Fe deficiency problems in fruit trees production. Malus halliana is an apple rootstock that is resistant to Fe deficiency; however, few molecular studies have been conducted on M. halliana. RESULTS: To evaluate short-term molecular response of M. halliana leaves under Fe deficiency condition, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analyses were conducted at 0 (T1), 0.5 (T2) and 3 d (T3) after Fe-deficiency stress, and the timepoints were determined with a preliminary physiological experiment. In all, 6907, 5328, and 3593 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in pairs of T2 vs. T1, T3 vs. T1, and T3 vs. T2. Several of the enriched DEGs were related to heme binding, Fe ion binding, thylakoid membranes, photosystem II, photosynthesis-antenna protein, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and carotenoid biosynthesis under Fe deficiency, which suggests that Fe deficiency mainly affects the photosynthesis of M. halliana. Additionally, we found that Fe deficiency induced significant down-regulation in genes involved in photosynthesis at T2 when seedlings were treated with Fe-deficient solution for 0.5 d, indicating that there was a rapid response of M. halliana to Fe deficiency. A strong up-regulation of photosynthesis genes was detected at T3, which suggested that M. halliana was able to recover photosynthesis after prolonged Fe starvation. A similar expression pattern was found in pigment regulation, including genes for coding chlorophyllide a oxygenase (CAO), ß-carotene hydroxylase (ß-OHase), zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED). Our results suggest that pigment regulation plays an important role in the Fe deficiency response. In addition, we verified sixteen genes related to photosynthesis-antenna protein, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to ensure the accuracy of transcriptome data. Photosynthetic parameters, Chl fluorescence parameters and the activity of Chlase were also determined. CONCLUSIONS: This study broadly characterizes a molecular mechanism in which pigment and photosynthesis-related regulations play indispensable roles in the response of M. halliana to short-term Fe deficiency and provides a basis for future analyses of the key genes involved in the tolerance of Fe deficiency.

[Compound huangdai tablet as induction therapy for 193 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To report the results of curative and adverse effects of compound huangdai tablet (CHDT) as induction therapy for 193 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHODS: CHDT was administered 1.25 g orally three times a day after meal for three days, then the dosage was gradually increased to 7.5 g/d. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-three patients achieved complete remission (CR), 78.8% of whom in 30 to 60 days with an average time of 44.3 d. No serious infection, bleeding or DIC occurred during the treatment course. The major adverse effects were gastrointestinal symptoms. There was no change in lanine transaminase, urea, creatinine or electrocardiographic QTc interval in 110 APL patients observed before and after the treatment. CONCLUSION: CHDT therapy is a modality of higher CR rate, good safety and tolerance without bone marrow suppression for APL patients.

[Effects of inactivated rabbit serum containing compound realgar and natural indigo tablet on cell line NB4].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of inactivated rabbit serum containing compound realgar and natural indigo tablet (CRNIT) on cell line NB(4). METHODS: The experimental rabbits were taken as the provider of the animal serum, and the serum was inactivated before the experiment. The serum was divided into two groups based on whether the rabbits were given CRNIT. The concentration of arsenic in the rabbit's serum was detected by AFS-230a double path atom fluorescence photometer. The inhibition rates and apoptosis rates were regarded as the observational indexes. RESULTS: The concentration of arsenic in the inactivated rabbit serum containing and not containing the drug were (0.010 0+/-0.001 0) mg/L and (0.110 0+/-0.006 4) mg/L respectively, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.01). The two groups of serum all had inhibitory effect on the growth of NB(4) cells depending on the drug concentration and effect time. And there were significant differences among the groups. The two groups of serum all induced the apoptosis of NB(4) with positive relations with the concentration and effect time. And there were significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The rabbit serum containing CRNIT can obviously restrain the growth of NB(4) cells and the inhibitory effect depends on the concentration and effect time. And the rabbit serum containing CRNIT can also induce the apoptosis of NB(4) cell line and the apoptosis rates depend on the concentration and effect time.

[Study on Realgar inducing apoptosis in T lymphocytic cell line CEM].

OBJECTIVE: To study the Realgar induced T lymphocytic leukemia cell line CEM apoptosis in vitro. METHODS: CEM cells were incubated with Realgar. Cell proliferation inhibition was determined by MTT. Cell cycle, apoptosis, Apo2.7 and Fas were measured by cytometer. RESULTS: Realgar inhibited the proliferation of CEM cell line. The cells treated with Realgar showed a Sub-G(0)/G(1) apoptotic peak in DNA distribution histogram, increment of Apo2.7 protein expression, and arrested cells in G(2)/M phase, but ineffectiveness on Fas expression. CONCLUSION: The Realgar can induce CEM cell apoptosis in vitro.