Methyltransferase TaSAMT1 mediates wheat freezing tolerance by integrating brassinosteroid and salicylic acid signaling.

Cold injury is a major environmental stress affecting the growth and yield of crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) and salicylic acid (SA) play important roles in plant cold tolerance. However, whether or how BR signaling interacts with the SA signaling pathway in response to cold stress is still unknown. Here, we identified an SA methyltransferase, TaSAMT1 that converts SA to methyl SA (MeSA) and confers freezing tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum). TaSAMT1 overexpression greatly enhanced wheat freezing tolerance, with plants accumulating more MeSA and less SA, whereas Tasamt1 knockout lines were sensitive to freezing stress and accumulated less MeSA and more SA. Spraying plants with MeSA conferred freezing tolerance to Tasamt1 mutants, but SA did not. We revealed that BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (TaBZR1) directly binds to the TaSAMT1 promoter and induces its transcription. Moreover, TaBZR1 interacts with the histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1, which potentiates TaSAMT1 expression via increased histone acetylation and modulates the SA pathway during freezing stress. Additionally, overexpression of TaBZR1 or TaHAG1 altered TaSAMT1 expression and improved freezing tolerance. Our results demonstrate a key regulatory node that connects the BR and SA pathways in the plant cold stress response. The regulatory factors or genes identified could be effective targets for the genetic improvement of freezing tolerance in crops.

Monopole-like orbital-momentum locking and the induced orbital transport in topological chiral semimetals.

The interplay between chirality and topology nurtures many exotic electronic properties. For instance, topological chiral semimetals display multifold chiral fermions that manifest nontrivial topological charge and spin texture. They are an ideal playground for exploring chirality-driven exotic physical phenomena. In this work, we reveal a monopole-like orbital-momentum locking texture on the three-dimensional Fermi surfaces of topological chiral semimetals with B20 structures (e.g., RhSi and PdGa). This orbital texture enables a large orbital Hall effect (OHE) and a giant orbital magnetoelectric (OME) effect in the presence of current flow. Different enantiomers exhibit the same OHE which can be converted to the spin Hall effect by spin-orbit coupling in materials. In contrast, the OME effect is chirality-dependent and much larger than its spin counterpart. Our work reveals the crucial role of orbital texture for understanding OHE and OME effects in topological chiral semimetals and paves the path for applications in orbitronics, spintronics, and enantiomer recognition.

Combined untargeted and targeted lipidomics approaches reveal potential biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus cynomolgus monkeys.

BACKGROUND: The significantly increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over the last few decades triggers the demands of T2DM animal models to explore the pathogenesis, prevention, and therapy of the disease. The altered lipid metabolism may play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of T2DM. However, the characterization of molecular lipid species in fasting serum related to T2DM cynomolgus monkeys is still underrecognized. METHODS: Untargeted and targeted LC-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS-based lipidomics approaches were applied to characterize and compare the fasting serum lipidomic profiles of T2DM cynomolgus monkeys and the healthy controls. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that 196 and 64 lipid molecules differentially expressed in serum samples using untargeted and targeted lipidomics as the comparison between the disease group and healthy group, respectively. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of differential serum lipid metabolites obtained by untargeted and targeted lipidomics approaches, four common serum lipid species (phosphatidylcholine [18:0_22:4], lysophosphatidylcholine [14:0], phosphatidylethanolamine [PE] [16:1_18:2], and PE [18:0_22:4]) were identified as potential biomarkers and all of which were found to be downregulated. By analyzing the metabolic pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism was associated with the pathogenesis of T2DM cynomolgus monkeys. CONCLUSION: The study found that four downregulated serum lipid species could serve as novel potential biomarkers of T2DM cynomolgus monkeys. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was filtered out as the potential therapeutic target pathway of T2DM progression. Our results showed that the identified biomarkers may offer a novel tool for tracking disease progression and response to therapeutic interventions.

Temporal network of experience sampling methodology identifies sleep disturbance as a central symptom in generalized anxiety disorder.

BACKGROUND: A temporal network of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms could provide valuable understanding of the occurrence and maintenance of GAD. We aim to obtain an exploratory conceptualization of temporal GAD network and identify the central symptom. METHODS: A sample of participants (n = 115) with elevated GAD-7 scores (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Questionnaire [GAD-7] ≥ 10) participated in an online daily diary study in which they reported their GAD symptoms based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria (eight symptoms in total) for 50 consecutive days. We used a multilevel VAR model to obtain the temporal network. RESULTS: In temporal network, a lot of lagged relationships exist among GAD symptoms and these lagged relationships are all positive. All symptoms have autocorrelations and there are also some interesting feedback loops in temporal network. Sleep disturbance has the highest Out-strength centrality. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates how GAD symptoms interact with each other and strengthen themselves over time, and particularly highlights the relationships between sleep disturbance and other GAD symptoms. Sleep disturbance may play an important role in the dynamic development and maintenance process of GAD. The present study may develop the knowledge of the theoretical model, diagnosis, prevention and intervention of GAD from a temporal symptoms network perspective.

Overexpression of Aurora Kinase B Is Correlated with Diagnosis and Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Aurora kinase B (AURKB) overexpression promotes tumor initiation and development by participating in the cell cycle. In this study, we focused on the mechanism of AURKB in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and on AURKB's value as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in HCC. We used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to analyze AURKB expression in HCC. We found that the expression levels of AURKB in HCC samples were higher than those in the corresponding control group. R packages were used to analyze RNA sequencing data to identify AURKB-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and these genes were found to be significantly enriched during the cell cycle. The biological function of AURKB was verified, and the results showed that cell proliferation was slowed down and cells were arrested in the G2/M phase when AURKB was knocked down. AURKB overexpression resulted in significant differences in clinical symptoms, such as the clinical T stage and pathological stage. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox regression analysis, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that AURKB overexpression has good diagnostic and prognostic potential in HCC. Therefore, AURKB may be used as a potential target for the diagnosis and cure of HCC.

Application of a New Monitoring Variable: Effects of Power Loss During Squat Training on Strength Gains and Sports Performance.

ABSTRACT: Zhang, M, Chen, L, Dai, J, Yang, Q, Huang, Z, He, J, Ji, H, Sun, J, and Li, D. Application of a new monitoring variable: Effects of power loss during squat training on strength gains and sports performance. J Strength Cond Res 38(4): 656-670, 2024-This study aimed to compare the effects of power loss (PL) autoregulated volume (PL10 and PL20) with standardized fixed-load (FL) prescription on strength, sports performance, and lean body mass (LBM). Thirty-five female basketball players from a sports college were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups (PL10, n = 12; PL20, n = 12; and FL, n = 11, respectively) that performed a resistance training (RT) program with wave-like periodization for 10 weeks using the back squat exercise. Assessments performed before (Pre) and after (Post) intervention included assessed 1 repetition maximum (1RM), body composition, 20-m sprint (T20M), change of direction (COD), and jump performance, including countermovement jump with arm swing, maximum vertical jump, and reactive strength index. Three groups showed significant improvements in strength (effect size [ES]: PL10 = 2.98, PL20 = 3.14, and FL = 1.90; p < 0.001) and jump performance (ES: PL10 = 0.74, PL20 = 1.50, and FL = 0.50; p <0.05-0.001). However, PL10 and PL20 demonstrated different advantages in sports performance compared with FL (group × time interaction, p <0.05). Specifically, PL10 significantly improved COD performance (ES = -0.79 ∼ -0.53, p <0.01), whereas PL20 showed greater improvements in sprint (ES = -0.57, p <0.05) and jump performance (ES = 0.67-1.64, p <0.01-0.001). Moreover, PL10 resulted in similar gains to PL20 and beneficial improvements compared with FL in LBM, despite performing the least repetitions. Overall, the study indicates that power loss-based autoregulation induces greater gains in LBM and sports performance, as well as eliciting a higher efficiency dose response than standardized FL prescriptions, particularly for PL10. Therefore, incorporating PL monitoring in training programs is recommended, and further studies on power-based RT would be worthwhile.

High-Quality Nuclear Genome and Mitogenome of Bipolaris sorokiniana LK93, a Devastating Pathogen Causing Wheat Root Rot.

Bipolaris sorokiniana, one of the most devastating hemibiotrophic fungal pathogens, causes root rot, crown rot, leaf blotching, and black embryos of gramineous crops worldwide, posing a serious threat to global food security. However, the host-pathogen interaction mechanism between B. sorokiniana and wheat remains poorly understood. To facilitate related studies, we sequenced and assembled the genome of B. sorokiniana LK93. Nanopore long reads and next generation sequencing short reads were applied in the genome assembly, and the final 36.4-Mb genome assembly contains 16 contigs with the contig N50 of 2.3 Mb. Subsequently, we annotated 11,811 protein-coding genes. Of these, 10,620 were functional genes, 258 of which were identified as secretory proteins, including 211 predicted effectors. Additionally, the 111,581-bp mitogenome of LK93 was assembled and annotated. The LK93 genomes presented in this study will facilitate research in the B. sorokiniana-wheat pathosystem for better control of crop diseases. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Chemokines: Function and therapeutic potential in bone metastasis of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a rapidly progressing disease with a poor prognosis. Bone metastasis is commonly found in 40.6% of advanced-stage patients. The mortality rate of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis can be significantly decreased by implementing novel diagnostic techniques, improved staging and classification systems, precise surgical interventions, and advanced treatment modalities. However, it is important to note that there is currently a lack of radical procedures available for these patients due to the development of drug resistance. Consequently, palliative care approaches are commonly employed in clinical practice. Therefore, new understandings of the process of bone metastasis of lung cancer are critical for developing better treatment strategies to improve patient's clinical cure rate and quality of life. Chemokines are cell-secreted small signaling proteins in cancer occurrence, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In this study, we review the development of bone metastasis in lung cancer and discuss the mechanisms of specific chemokine families (CC, CXC, CX3C, and XC) in regulating the biological activities of tumors and promoting bone metastasis. We also highlight some preclinical studies and clinical trials on chemokines for lung cancer and bone metastasis.

Tracking tumor alteration in glioma through serum fibroblast activation protein combined with image.

PURPOSE: Detecting tumor progression of glioma continues to pose a formidable challenge. The role of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in gliomas has been demonstrated to facilitate tumor progression. Glioma-circulating biomarkers have not yet been used in clinical practice. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of glioma detection through the utilization of a serum FAP marker. METHODS: We adopted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to quantify the relative FAP level of serum autoantibodies in a cohort of 87 gliomas. The correlation between preoperative serum autoantibody relative FAP levels and postoperative pathology, including molecular pathology was investigated. A series of FAP tests were conducted on 33 cases of malignant gliomas in order to ascertain their efficacy in monitoring the progression of the disease in relation to imaging observations. To validate the presence of FAP expression in tumors, immunohistochemistry was conducted on four gliomas employing a FAP-specific antibody. Additionally, the investigation encompassed the correlation between postoperative tumor burden, as assessed through volumetric analysis, and the relative FAP level of serum autoantibodies. RESULTS: A considerable proportion of gliomas exhibited a significantly increased level of serum autoantibody relative FAP level. This elevation was closely associated with both histopathology and molecular pathology, and demonstrated longitudinal fluctuations and variations corresponding to the progression of the disease The correlation between the rise in serum autoantibody relative FAP level and tumor progression and/or exacerbation of symptoms was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of serum autoantibody relative FAP level can be used to detect the disease as a valuable biomarker. The combined utilization of its detection alongside MR imaging has the potential to facilitate a more accurate and prompt diagnosis.

Consensus on the pharmacological treatment of acute stress disorder in Chinese pilots: a Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate medication is very important for pilots with acute stress disorder. Improper medication can not only affect the physical and mental health of the pilots but can also endanger flight safety. Hence, we aimed to quickly and effectively relieve symptoms and restore cognitive function by forming a consensus of Chinese experts on the pharmacological treatment of acute stress disorder in pilots using the Delphi method. METHODS: Relevant literature was searched to enumerate the current status of pharmacological treatment of acute stress disorder in pilots, followed by two rounds of expert consultation and discussion according to the listed status of the survey using the Delphi method. A descriptive statistical method was used to analyze the basic information, authority coefficients, concentration of opinions, and survey items of the experts to develop a consensus on the pharmacological treatment of acute stress disorder in pilots. RESULTS: A total of 16 experts in psychiatry, pharmacology, and aerospace medicine from different provinces and cities across China were invited for consultation. The recovery rate of the two rounds of consultation was 100%, and the expert authority coefficients were 0.897 and 0.906, respectively. Kendall's coefficient of concordance of indicators at all levels was 0.564-0.594 (p < 0.01). Based on the number of votes received, alprazolam tablets (16), eszopiclone tablets (15), and lorazepam tablets (14) were recommended for the treatment of excitatory psychomotor symptoms of acute stress disorder; paroxetine tablets (15) and sertraline tablets (15) were available for psychomotor depressive symptoms; olanzapine tablets (15), olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets (14), and quetiapine fumarate tablets (14) were selected for psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study formed a consensus on rapid and effective pharmacological treatment for different symptoms of acute stress disorder pilots, which provides a reference for clinical treatment.

Using an Expanded Cervical Flap With an Overlapping Tissue Expansion Technique to Resurface Middle and Lower Facial Defects.

BACKGROUND: Extensive facial burn scars are a tragedy for patients and often pose a great challenge to surgeons because of the high esthetic and functional demands. For patients with healthy skin in the neck region, a cervical flap is highly recommended for facial resurfacing; however, the skin on the midline of the neck often needs more expansion than that on either side, especially for the treatment of large facial defects. The sufficient longitudinal soft tissue in the anterior neck ensures a normal neck shape as well as a normal range of cervical extension, rotation, and lateral flexion. To overcome this, we developed an expanded cervical flap with an overlapping tissue expansion technique to gain more length centrally. METHODS: First, 2 tissue expanders were embedded in the anterior neck region overlapping each other at the midline of the neck. After adequate inflation of the expander, the expanded flap was dissected and rotated to repair defects in the middle and lower face. The anchor position of the flap was placed on the horizontal line of the thyroid cartilage to restore the cervicomental angle. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were treated with this method in this single-center study. All defects affected the middle and lower face, with an area ranging from 135 to 185 cm 2 , and were caused by a massive facial burn. Among them, 12 patients suffered ectropion of the lower lip, 3 suffered limited mouth opening due to scar contraction, and one patient had a cervicomental adhesion. The area of the expanded flap was approximately 163 to 266 cm 2 . The average period of expansion was 89.5 days. Patients were followed up after the operation, with the follow-up period ranging from 6 to 12 months. In all cases, good defect coverage was achieved, with primary closure of the donor sites and a good postoperative cervical configuration. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the expanded cervical flap with the overlapping tissue expansion technique proved to be a reliable method for facial skin reconstruction with functional and aesthetic improvement.

Blood Supply of the Temporal Flap Pedicled With Orbicularis Oculi Muscle: Anatomy and Its Clinical Implications.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic injury or tumor resection can lead to eyelid defects, nasal defects, and cheek defects. The temporal flap pedicled with orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM) can be used to repair these defects. This cadaver-based anatomic study aimed to evaluate the blood supply of this flap and investigate its clinical implications. METHODS: Twenty hemifaces from 10 cadavers were used in this study. The number of arteries supplying OOM of the flap, the diameter of the artery entering OOM, and the maximum width of OOM were recorded. All data were presented as mean±SD values and analyzed using Student t -test. A P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of these 10 specimens, 7 were males and 3 were females. The average age was 67.7 years (range, 53-78 y). The number of arteries supplying OOM was 8.5±1.4 in the male and 7.8±1.2 in the female. The diameter of the zygomatico-orbital artery was detected as 0.53±0.06 mm in the male and 0.40±0.11 mm in the female. The maximum width of OOM was detected as 2.5±0.1 cm in the male and 2.2±0.1 cm in the female. Males had significantly larger average values than females in the diameter of zygomatico-orbital artery and maximum width of OOM ( P =0.012, P <0.001, respectively). However, the number of arteries supplying OOM did not differ significantly between sex ( P =0.322). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the blood supply of the temporal flap pedicled with OOM is abundant and reliable. The findings provide surgeons with valuable anatomic knowledge for repairing facial defects with this flap.

A 20-Year Experience with Tissue Expansion for Large Cervical Fascial Defects: An Algorithm Based on Different Clinical Flap Designs.

Over the past 20 years, we have designed various types of expanded cervical flaps for large facial defects and achieved excellent tissue matching. This study was performed to propose a treatment strategy for flap selection for the reconstruction of different facial units. The authors retrospectively reviewed the application of cervical expanded flaps for facial rehabilitation in our department between January 2003 and January 2023. The study included 122 patients with unilateral (62.3%) and bilateral (37.7%) facial deformities ranging from the zygomatic arch to the chin. The median area of the tissue defect was 15.2 × 8.5 cm2 (ranging from 6 × 4 cm2 to 27 × 12 cm2). The expansion period ranged from 61 to 175 days (mean: 86.5 days). Maximum and minimum sizes of pre-expanded cervical flaps were 30 × 13 cm2 to 7 × 5 cm2. All the flaps could be summarized into type 1, an advanced expanded cervical flap; type 2, a wing-shaped expanded cervical flap with overlapping tissue expansion; and type 3, an expanded single-lobed transposition flap rotated based on the anterior neck. Cervical flaps reliably meet the reconstructive requirements for different facial units, especially for large cutaneous defects in the clinic. The selection of these flaps can be planned preoperatively according to the location and size of the defect or lesion.

A high-resolution transcriptomic atlas depicting nitrogen fixation and nodule development in soybean.

Although root nodules are essential for biological nitrogen fixation in legumes, the cell types and molecular regulatory mechanisms contributing to nodule development and nitrogen fixation in determinate nodule legumes, such as soybean (Glycine max), remain incompletely understood. Here, we generated a single-nucleus resolution transcriptomic atlas of soybean roots and nodules at 14 days post inoculation (dpi) and annotated 17 major cell types, including six that are specific to nodules. We identified the specific cell types responsible for each step in the ureides synthesis pathway, which enables spatial compartmentalization of biochemical reactions during soybean nitrogen fixation. By utilizing RNA velocity analysis, we reconstructed the differentiation dynamics of soybean nodules, which differs from those of indeterminate nodules in Medicago truncatula. Moreover, we identified several putative regulators of soybean nodulation and two of these genes, GmbHLH93 and GmSCL1, were as-yet uncharacterized in soybean. Overexpression of each gene in soybean hairy root systems validated their respective roles in nodulation. Notably, enrichment for cytokinin-related genes in soybean nodules led to identification of the cytokinin receptor, GmCRE1, as a prominent component of the nodulation pathway. GmCRE1 knockout in soybean resulted in a striking nodule phenotype with decreased nitrogen fixation zone and depletion of leghemoglobins, accompanied by downregulation of nodule-specific gene expression, as well as almost complete abrogation of biological nitrogen fixation. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive perspective of the cellular landscape during soybean nodulation, shedding light on the underlying metabolic and developmental mechanisms of soybean nodule formation.

Observation of Asymmetric Oxidation Catalysis with B20 Chiral Crystals.

The study of heterogeneous reactions for enantiomeric processes based on inorganic crystals has been resurgent in recent years. However, the question remains how homochirality develops in nature and chemical reactions. Here, the successful growth of B20 group PdGa single crystals with different chiral lattices enabled us to achieve enantioselective recognition of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) based on a new mechanism, namely orbital angular momentum (OAM) polarization. The orbital textures of PdGa crystals indicate large OAM polarization near the Fermi level and carrying opposite signs. A positive or negative magnetization in the [111] direction is expected depending on the chiral lattice of PdGa crystals. Due to this, the adsorption energies of PdGa crystals and DOPA molecules differ depending on how well the O-2p orbital of DOPA pairs with the Pd-4d orbital of PdGa. The results provide one possible explanation for how chirality arises in nature by providing an enantioselective route with pure inorganic crystals.

Gap-Free Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genomes of Ustilaginoidea virens JS60-2, a Fungal Pathogen Causing Rice False Smut.

Rice false smut (RFS), caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, has become a major disease in recent years, and mycotoxins produced by U. virens often threaten food safety. To study fungal pathogenesis and identify potential targets for developing new fungicides, gap-free nuclear and complete mitochondrial genomes of U. virens JS60-2 were sequenced and assembled. Using the second and third generation sequencing data, we assembled a 38.02-Mb genome that consists of seven contigs with the contig N50 being 6.32-Mb. In total, 8,486 protein-coding genes were annotated in the genome, including 21 secondary metabolism gene clusters. We also assembled the complete mitochondrial genome, which is 102,498 bp, with 28% GC content. The JS60-2 genomes assembled in this study will facilitate research on U. virens and contribute to RFS control. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Driver mutations in ADGRL3 are involved in the evolution of ependymoma.

Although there have been recent advances in the molecular pathology of ependymomas, little is known about the underlying molecular evolution during its development. Here, we assessed the clinical, pathological and molecular evolutionary process of ependymoma recurrence in a 9-year-old patient who had seven recurrences of supratentorial ependymoma and died from intracranial multiregional recurrences at the age of 19 years old. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 7 tumor samples (1 primary and 6 subsequent recurrent tumors) was performed to elucidate the mutation landscape and identify potential driver mutations for tumor evolution. The genetic profiles of the seven tumor specimens showed significant heterogeneity and suggested a highly branched evolutionary pattern. The mutational signatures and chromothripsis changed with treatments. Strikingly, adhesion G protein-coupled receptor L3 (ADGRL3, also known as Latrophilins 3, LPNH3) was found to be consistently mutated during the entire disease process. However, Sanger sequencing of other 78 ependymoma patients who underwent surgery at our institution showed no genetic alteration of ADGRL3, as found in the present case. The mRNA levels of ADGRL3 were significantly lower in ependymomas (n = 36), as compared with normal brain tissue (n = 3). Grade III ependymomas had the lowest ADGRL3 expression. Moreover, ependymomas with lower mRNA level of ADGRL3 had shorter overall survival. Our findings, therefore, demonstrate a rare evolutionary process of ependymoma involving ADGRL3.

Histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1 interacts with TaPLATZ5 to activate TaPAD4 expression and positively contributes to powdery mildew resistance in wheat.

Plants have evolved a two-branched innate immune system to detect and cope with pathogen attack, which are initiated by cell-surface and intracellular immune receptors leading to pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), respectively. A core transducer including PAD4-EDS1 node is proposed as the convergence point for a two-tiered immune system in conferring pathogen immunity. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling expression of these key transducers remain largely unknown. Here, we identified histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1 as a positive regulator of powdery mildew resistance in wheat. TaHAG1 regulates expression of key transducer gene TaPAD4 and promotes SA and reactive oxygen species accumulation to accomplish resistance to Bgt infection. Moreover, overexpression and CRISPR-mediated knockout of TaPAD4 validate its role in wheat powdery mildew resistance. Furthermore, TaHAG1 physically interacts with TaPLATZ5, a plant-specific zinc-binding protein. TaPLATZ5 directly binds to promoter of TaPAD4 and together with TaHAG1 to potentiate the expression of TaPAD4 by increasing the levels of H3 acetylation. Our study revealed a key transcription regulatory node in which TaHAG1 acts as an epigenetic modulator and interacts with TaPLATZ5 that confers powdery mildew resistance in wheat through activating a convergence point gene between PTI and ETI, which could be effective for genetic improvement of disease resistance in wheat and other crops.

Vibration assisted glass-formation in zeolitic imidazolate framework.

A new glass forming method is essential for broadening the scope of liquid and glassy metal-organic frameworks due to the limitations of the conventional melt-quenching method. Herein, we show that in situ mechanical vibration can facilitate the framework melting at a lower temperature and produce glassy metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with unique properties. Using zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-62 as a concept-proofing material, in situ mechanical vibration enables low-temperature melting at 653 K, far below its melting point (713 K). The resultant vibrated ZIF-62 glass exhibited a lower glass transition temperature of 545 K, improved gas accessible porosity, and pronounced short-to-medium range structures compared to the corresponding melt-quenched glass. We propose that vibration-facilitated surface reconstruction facilitates pre-melting, which could be the cause of the lowered melting temperature. The vibration assisted method represents a new general method to produce MOF glasses without thermal decomposition.

Structural length-scale of ß relaxation in metallic glass.

Establishing the structure-property relationship is an important goal of glassy materials, but it is usually impeded by their disordered structure and non-equilibrium nature. Recent studies have illustrated that secondary (ß) relaxation is closely correlated with several properties in a range of glassy materials. However, it has been challenging to identify the pertinent structural features that govern it. In this work, we show that the so-called polyamorphous transition in metallic glasses offers an opportunity to distinguish the structural length scale of ß relaxation. We find that, while the glass transition temperature and medium-range orders (MROs) change rapidly across the polyamorphous transition, the intensity of ß relaxation and the short-range orders (SROs) evolve in a way similar to those in an ordinary reference glass without polyamorphous transition. Our findings suggest that the MRO accounts mainly for the global stiffening of the materials and the glass transition, while the SRO contributes more to ß relaxation per se.