BAG6-A from Fragaria viridis pollen modulates gametophyte development in diploid strawberry.

Male and female gametophyte development processes are essential steps in the life cycles of all land plants. Here, we characterized a gene, FviBAG6-A, screened from the Fragaria viridis (2 n = 2x=14) pollen cDNA library and physically interacted with S-RNase. Ubiquitinated of Sa-RNase might be determined by the interaction of FviBAG6-A in the ubiquitin-proteasome system during fertilization. We found that overexpression of FviBAG6-A in Arabidopsis caused shorter silique length, and decreased silique number. Moreover, overexpression of FviBAG6-A in Fragaria vesca (2 n = 2x=14) led to a greatly reduced seed number, with nearly 80% of the seeds aborted. Analyses of paraffin sections and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content revealed that the majority of severe pollen defects were likely due to the early degradation of the tapetum and middle layer as a result of ROS accumulation and abnormal development of the uninucleate megaspore mother. Moreover, the FviBAG6-A interact with the E3 ligase SIZ1 and contribute to the SUMOylation of FviBAG6-A , which may be induced by the high level of ROS content, further promoting gametophyte abortion in strawberry transgenic lines. This study characterized the FviBAG6-A and reveals its novel function in gametophyte development.

[Clinical effect of electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shuigou points in treatment of brain injury in patients with sepsis-associated encephalopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Shuigou (GV26) points in the treatment of brain injury in patients with sepsis-associated encephalopathy(SAE). METHODS: A total of 70 patients with SAE were randomly divided into control group and treatment group, with 35 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were given routine western medicine treatment, including anti-infective therapy, nerve nutrition, and mechanical ventilation, and those in the treatment group were given electroacupuncture at GV20 and GV26 in addition to the treatment in the control group. The course of treatment was 1 week for both groups. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were measured for both groups, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale was used to assess the change in cognitive function, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was determined before and after treatment and was used to evaluate treatment outcome after treatment. RESULTS: Both groups had significant reductions in the serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and NSE after 24 h and one week of treatment (P<0.05), and compared with the control group, the treatment group had significant reductions in the levels of CRP, IL-6 and NSE after treatment (P<0.05). The treatment group had significant increases in the total score of MoCA and the scores of all dimensions except attention after one week of treatment (P<0.05), and the treatment group had significantly higher scores than the control group after treatment (P<0.05). Both groups had a significant increase in GCS score after one week of treatment (P<0.05), and the treatment group had a significantly higher GCS score than the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The treatment group had a significantly higher total effective rate than the control group ï¼»88.6% (31/35) vs 57.1% (20/35), P<0.05ï¼½. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at GV20 and GV26 can effectively improve brain injury and effective rate in SAE patients.

Relative bioavailability of humate-manganese complex for broilers fed a corn-soya bean meal diet.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the bioavailability of manganese (Mn) from humate-Mn complex relative to Mn sulphate for the starter broilers fed a conventional corn-soya bean meal diet. A total of 560 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chicks were randomly allotted to one of eight replicate cages (10 chicks per cage) for each of seven treatments in a completely randomized design involving a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with two Mn sources (humate-Mn and Mn sulphate) and three levels of added Mn (60, 120 or 180 mg Mn/kg) plus a Mn-unsupplemented control diet containing 27.23 mg Mn/kg by analysis. At 14 days of age, the blood, liver, heart and tibia were collected for Mn analyses, and the activity and mRNA abundance of heart manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). The results showed that humate-Mn supplementation decreased feed intake from day 1 to day 14, whereas it did not influence (p > 0.20) body weight at day 14 as compared to Mn sulphate. The Mn source did not influence Mn concentration in the liver, heart and tibia, and the activity and mRNA abundance of heart MnSOD, while humate-Mn decreased plasma Mn as compared to Mn sulphate. The Mn concentration in the plasma and heart, and the activity and mRNA abundance of heart MnSOD increased linearly as dietary Mn concentration increased. Based on slope ratios from multiple linear regressions of Mn concentrations in the plasma and heart, and the activity and mRNA abundance of heart MnSOD on daily intake amount of dietary analysed Mn, the bioavailability of humate-Mn complex relative to Mn sulphate (100%) was 82.8, 90.4, 82.8 and 81.9 respectively. These results indicated that the Mn from humate-Mn complex was just as bioavailable as the Mn from Mn sulphate for the starter broilers (day 1-14).

Global transcriptome analysis and identification of genes involved in nutrients accumulation during seed development of rice tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum Tararicum).

Tartary buckwheat seeds are rich in various nutrients, such as storage proteins, starch, and flavonoids. To get a good knowledge of the transcriptome dynamics and gene regulatory mechanism during the process of seed development and nutrients accumulation, we performed a comprehensive global transcriptome analysis using rice tartary buckwheat seeds at different development stages, namely pre-filling stage, filling stage, and mature stage. 24 819 expressed genes, including 108 specifically expressed genes, and 11 676 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. qRT-PCR analysis was performed on 34 DEGs to validate the transcriptome data, and a good consistence was obtained. Based on their expression patterns, the identified DEGs were classified to eight clusters, and the enriched GO items in each cluster were analyzed. In addition, 633 DEGs related to plant hormones were identified. Furthermore, genes in the biosynthesis pathway of nutrients accumulation were analyzed, including 10, 20, and 23 DEGs corresponding to the biosynthesis of seed storage proteins, flavonoids, and starch, respectively. This is the first transcriptome analysis during seed development of tartary buckwheat. It would provide us a comprehensive understanding of the complex transcriptome dynamics during seed development and gene regulatory mechanism of nutrients accumulation.

AP39, a Mitochondria-Targeted Hydrogen Sulfide Donor, Supports Cellular Bioenergetics and Protects against Alzheimer's Disease by Preserving Mitochondrial Function in APP/PS1 Mice and Neurons.

Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial functions are altered in AD and play an important role in AD pathogenesis. It has been established that H2S homeostasis is balanced in AD. The emerging mitochondrial roles of H2S include antioxidation, antiapoptosis, and the modulation of cellular bioenergetics. Here, using primary neurons from the well-characterized APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model, we studied the effects of AP39 (a newly synthesized mitochondrially targeted H2S donor) on mitochondrial function. AP39 increased intracellular H2S levels, mainly in mitochondrial regions. AP39 exerted dose-dependent effects on mitochondrial activity in APP/PS1 neurons, including increased cellular bioenergy metabolism and cell viability at low concentrations (25-100 nM) and decreased energy production and cell viability at a high concentration (250 nM). Furthermore, AP39 (100 nM) increased ATP levels, protected mitochondrial DNA, and decreased ROS generation. AP39 regulated mitochondrial dynamics, shifting from fission toward fusion. After 6 weeks, AP39 administration to APP/PS1 mice significantly ameliorated their spatial memory deficits in the Morris water maze and NORT and reduced Aß deposition in their brains. Additionally, AP39 inhibited brain atrophy in APP/PS1 mice. Based on these results, AP39 was proposed as a promising drug candidate for AD treatment, and its anti-AD mechanism may involve protection against mitochondrial damage.