OsHUB2 inhibits function of OsTrx1 in heading date in rice.

Heading date is one of the most pivotal agronomic traits for rice (Oryza sativa) yield and adaptation. Little is known about the crosstalk between histone ubiquitination and histone methylation in rice heading date regulation. Here, we reported HISTONE MONOUBIQUITINATION 1 (OsHUB1) and OsHUB2 are involved in heading date regulation via the Hd1 and Ehd1 pathway. Loss of OsHUB1 and OsHUB2 function resulted in early heading under long-day and short-day photoperiods. The expression of Hd3a, RFT1, and Ehd1 was induced and the transcript levels of Hd1, Ghd7, OsCCA1, OsGI, OsFKF1, and OsTOC1 were reduced under long-day conditions, whereas RFT1 and Ehd1 expression was induced in oshub2 mutants under short-day conditions. OsHUB2 interacted with OsTrx1 and repressed the gene expression of OsTrx1. OsHUB2 directly bound to Ehd1 to ubiquitinate H2B at Ehd1, and H2B ubiquitination levels were reduced in oshub2-2 and oshub2-3 mutants. OsTrx1 were highly enriched at Ehd1, and H3K4me3 levels of Ehd1 were upregulated in oshub2-2. Mutations of OsTrx1 in the oshub2-2 background rescued the early-heading phenotype of oshub2-2. The increases in Ehd1 H3K4me3 levels and transcript levels in oshub2-2 mutants were attenuated in oshub2-2 ostrx1-2 double mutants. Together, our results (i) reveal that OsHUB2 represses the function of OsTrx1 and H3K4me3 levels at Ehd1 and (ii) suggest that OsHUB2-mediated H2B ubiquitination plays critical roles together with H3K4me3 in rice heading date regulation.

Chromatin remodeling factors OsYAF9 and OsSWC4 interact to promote internode elongation in rice.

Deposition of H2A.Z and H4 acetylation by SWI2/SNF2-Related 1 Chromatin Remodeling (SWR1) and Nucleosome Acetyltransferase of H4 (NuA4) complexes in specific regulatory regions modulates transcription and development. However, little is known about these complexes in Oryza sativa (rice) development. Here, we reported that OsYAF9 and OsSWC4, two subunits of SWR1 and NuA4 complexes, are involved in rice vegetative and reproductive development. Loss of OsYAF9 resulted in reduced height, fewer tillers, fewer pollen grains, and defects in embryogenesis and seed filling. OsYAF9 directly interacted with OsSWC4 in vitro and in vivo. Loss of OsSWC4 function exhibited defects in pollen germination and failure to generate seeds, whereas knockdown of OsSWC4 resulted in reduced height and fewer tillers. The reduced height caused by OsYAF9 mutation and OsSWC4 knockdown was due to shorter internodes and defects in cell elongation, and this phenotype was rescued with gibberellin (GA) treatment, suggesting that both OsYAF9 and OsSWC4 are involved in the GA biosynthesis pathway. OsSWC4 was directly bound to the AT-rich region of GA biosynthesis genes, which in turn accomplished H2A.Z deposition and H4 acetylation at the GA biosynthesis genes with OsYAF9. Together, our study provides insights into the mechanisms involving OsSWC4 and OsYAF9 forming a protein complex to promote rice internode elongation with H2A.Z deposition and H4 acetylation.

Association between HFE polymorphisms and susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis of 22 studies including 4,365 cases and 8,652 controls.

Whether the variations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene increase Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is still undetermined. We performed a meta-analysis in order to systematically summarize the possible association. Studies were identified by searching PUBMED, Web of Science and EMBASE databases complemented with screening the references of the retrieved studies. The association was measured using random-effect or fixed-effect odds ratio (OR) combined with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to the studies' heterogeneity. For C282Y polymorphism, we did not find any association using data from 22 studies including 4,365 cases and 8,652 controls. For H63D polymorphism, on the basis of 2,795 cases and 7,424 controls from 17 studies, we observed a significant association (allele contrast: OR = 0.902, 95% CI = 0.819-0.994, P = 0.037; minor-allele-dominant model: OR = 0.887, 95% CI = 0.790-0.996, P = 0.043). No publication bias was detected in this meta-analysis. The synthesis of available evidence supports mutant of HFE H63D polymorphism plays a protective role for AD risk.

The effect of an overall healthy lifestyle on early-onset stroke: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of an overall healthy lifestyle on early-onset stroke is still unclear. Our study thus aimed to investigate the association of overall healthy lifestyle on early-onset stroke in Chinese hospitalized stroke patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 821 hospitalized stroke patients from the First People's Hospital of Changzhou. An overall healthy lifestyle was defined as the presence of more than 2 of the following items: healthy diet, no smoking, normal body mass index (BMI <24 kg/m2 ), engaging in moderate to high physical activity (≥3 times/week, and ≥30 minutes each time). Early-onset stroke was defined as a stroke first occurring at 50 years old or younger. RESULTS: Among all participants, there were 98 early-onset stroke patients and 723 late-onset stroke patients. Early-onset patients had a lower prevalence of overall healthy lifestyles than that of late-onset patients (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that an overall healthy lifestyle significantly reduced the risk of early-onset stroke. In reference to those without an overall healthy lifestyle, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for early-onset stroke among participants with an overall healthy lifestyle was 0.27 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07-0.98]. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese stroke patients, a healthy lifestyle was significantly associated with early-onset stroke. Individuals who were adhering to an overall healthy lifestyle had a lower risk of early-onset stroke compared to those who were not.