GHCU, a Molecular Chaperone, Regulates Leaf Curling by Modulating the Distribution of KNGH1 in Cotton.

Leaf shape is considered to be one of the most significant agronomic traits in crop breeding. However, the molecular basis underlying leaf morphogenesis in cotton is still largely unknown. In this study, through genetic mapping and molecular investigation using a natural cotton mutant cu with leaves curling upward, the causal gene GHCU is successfully identified as the key regulator of leaf flattening. Knockout of GHCU or its homolog in cotton and tobacco using CRISPR results in abnormal leaf shape. It is further discovered that GHCU facilitates the transport of the HD protein KNOTTED1-like (KNGH1) from the adaxial to the abaxial domain. Loss of GHCU function restricts KNGH1 to the adaxial epidermal region, leading to lower auxin response levels in the adaxial boundary compared to the abaxial. This spatial asymmetry in auxin distribution produces the upward-curled leaf phenotype of the cu mutant. By analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing and spatiotemporal transcriptomic data, auxin biosynthesis genes are confirmed to be expressed asymmetrically in the adaxial-abaxial epidermal cells. Overall, these findings suggest that GHCU plays a crucial role in the regulation of leaf flattening through facilitating cell-to-cell trafficking of KNGH1 and hence influencing the auxin response level.

Synchronization stability and multi-timescale analysis of renewable-dominated power systems.

Synchronization is one of the key issues in three-phase AC power systems. Its characteristics have been dramatically changed with the large-scale integration of power-electronic-based renewable energy, mainly including a permanent magnetic synchronous generator (PMSG) and a double-fed induction generator (DFIG) for wind energy and a photovoltaic (PV) generator for solar energy. In this paper, we review recent progresses on the synchronization stability and multi-timescale properties of the renewable-dominated power system (RDPS), from nodes and network perspectives. All PMSG, DFIG, and PV are studied. In the traditional synchronous generator (SG) dominated power system, its dynamics can be described by the differential-algebraic equations (DAEs), where the dynamic apparatuses are modeled by differential equations and the stationary networks are described by algebraic equations. Unlike the single electromechanical timescale and DAE description for the SG-dominated power system, the RDPS dynamics should be described by the multiscale dynamics of both nodes and networks. For three different timescales, including the AC current control, DC voltage control, and rotor electromechanical timescales, their corresponding models are well established. In addition, for the multiscale network dynamics, the dynamical network within the AC current control timescale, which should be described by differential equations, can also be simplified as algebraic equations. Thus, the RDPS dynamics can be put into a similar DAE diagram for each timescale to the traditional power system dynamics, with which most of power electrical engineers are familiar. It is also found that the phase-locked loop for synchronization plays a crucial role in the whole system dynamics. The differences in the synchronization and multiscale characteristics between the traditional power system and the RDPS are well uncovered and summarized. Therefore, the merit of this paper is to establish a basic physical picture for the stability mechanism in the RDPS, which still lacks systematic studies and is controversial in the field of electrical power engineering.

A truncated ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-like protein, GhLYI, regulates senescence in cotton.

Numerous endogenous and environmental signals regulate the intricate and highly orchestrated process of plant senescence. Ethylene (ET), which accumulates as senescence progresses, is a major promoter of leaf senescence. The master transcription activator ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3) activates the expression of a wide range of downstream genes during leaf senescence. Here, we found that a unique EIN3-LIKE 1 (EIL1) gene, cotton LINT YIELD INCREASING (GhLYI), encodes a truncated EIN3 protein in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that functions as an ET signal response factor and a positive regulator of senescence. Ectopic expression or overexpression of GhLYI accelerated leaf senescence in both Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and cotton. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) analyses revealed that SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED GENE 20 (SAG20) was a target of GhLYI. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), yeast 1-hybrid (Y1H), and dual-luciferase transient expression assay confirmed that GhLYI directly bound the promoter of SAG20 to activate its expression. Transcriptome analysis revealed that transcript levels of a series of senescence-related genes, SAG12, NAC-LIKE, ACTIVATED by APETALA 3/PISTILLATA (NAP/ANAC029), and WRKY53, are substantially induced in GhLYI overexpression plants compared with wild-type (WT) plants. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) preliminarily confirmed that knockdown of GhSAG20 delayed leaf senescence. Collectively, our findings provide a regulatory module involving GhLYI-GhSAG20 in controlling senescence in cotton.

Synchronization stability of power-grid-tied converters.

Synchronization stability is one of central problems in power systems, and it is becoming much more complicated with the high penetration of renewable energy and power electronics devices. In this paper, we review recent work by several nonlinear models for renewable-dominated power systems in terms of multiple timescales, in particular, grid-tied converters within the DC voltage timescale. For the simplest model, a second-order differential equations called the generalized swing equation by considering only the phase-locked loop (PLL) is obtained, which shows a similar form with the well-known swing equation for a synchronous generator in the traditional power systems. With more outer controllers included, fourth-order and fifth-order models can be obtained. The fourth-order model is called the extended generalized swing equation, exhibiting the combined function of grid synchronization and active power balance on the DC capacitor. In addition, a nonlinear model for a two coupled converter system is given. Based on these studies, we find that the PLL plays a key role in synchronization stability. In summary, the value of this paper is to clarify the key concept of the synchronization stability in renewable-dominated power systems based on different nonlinear models, which still lacks systematic studies and is controversial in the field of electrical power engineering. Meanwhile, it clearly uncovers that the synchronization stability of converters has its root in the phase synchronization concept in nonlinear sciences.

New Rosane Diterpenoids and Their Analogs from Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata.

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata resulted in the isolation of three new rosane diterpenoids, euphebracteolatins C-E (1-3), along with fourteen known analogs (4-17). Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR. Euphebracteolatin C (1) contains a C-1/C-10 double bond and a keto group at C-7, and euphebracteolatins D and E (2-3) possess an aromatic ring-A in their skeleton. The plausible biogenetic pathways of all the isolates were also proposed. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 9 showed selective cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 14.29 and 12.33 µM, respectively, and 2-3 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against three human cancer lines, with IC50 values ranging from 23.69 to 39.25 µM.

Jolkinolide B: A comprehensive review of its physicochemical properties, analytical methods, synthesis and pharmacological activity.

Jolkinolide B is a typical ent-abietane-type diterpenoid, which is first found in Euphorbia jolkini. It is one of the most important active components in many toxic Euphorbia plants. In recent years, jolkinolide B has garnered increasing attention due to its high potent and multiple pharmacological activities. In order to better understand the research status of jolkinolide B, relevant information about jolkinolide B was collected from scientific databases (SciFinder Scholar, PubMed, ACS website, Elsevier, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and CNKI). There are few studies on chemical synthesis and biosynthesis of jolkinolide B. In addition, researchers on the activities of jolkinolide B are mostly concentrated at the cellular level, and there is a lack of research on the mechanism. In this review, the possible applications of jolkinolide B were systematically illustrated for the first time, from plant sources, physicochemical properties, analytical methods, synthesis and pharmacological activities. Jolkinolide B exhibits extensive pharmacological properties, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporosis, and anti-tuberculosis activities. Pharmacological activities of jolkinolide B were mainly focused on anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, and the mechanism of action may be related with inhibition of JAK/STAT pathway, NF-κB pathway and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In addition, the extraction methods and analytical methods discussed in this review, will facilitate the development of novel herbal products for better healthcare solutions.

GhUBX controlling helical growth results in production of stronger cotton fiber.

Cotton fiber is an excellent model for studying plant cell elongation and cell wall biogenesis as well because they are highly polarized and use conserved polarized diffuse growth mechanism. Fiber strength is an important trait among cotton fiber qualities due to ongoing changes in spinning technology. However, the molecular mechanism of fiber strength forming is obscure. Through map-based cloning, we identified the fiber strength gene GhUBX. Increasing its expression, the fiber strength of the transgenic cotton was significantly enhanced compared to the receptor W0 and the helices number of the transgenic fiber was remarkably increased. Additionally, we proved that GhUBX regulates the fiber helical growth by degrading the GhSPL1 via the ubiquitin 26S-proteasome pathway. Taken together, we revealed the internal relationship between fiber helices and fiber stronger. It will be useful for improving the fiber quality in cotton breeding and illustrating the molecular mechanism for plant twisted growth.

Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical applications and toxicology of the genus Stellera Linn.: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The genus Stellera Linn. consists of species of perennial herbs and shrubs, and is mainly distributed in the temperate regions of east Asia to west Asia. There are 10∼12 species in the world, two species in China: Stellera chamaejasme Linn. and Stellera formosana Hayata ex Li. As recorded, the roots of Stellera species are used to dissipate phlegm and relieve pain. The roots and the barks can be used for papermaking. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review aims to summarize the ethnopharmacological uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, clinical applications and toxicology of the genus Stellera to better understand their therapeutic potential in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relevant information of the genus Stellera was collected from scientific databases (Pubmed, ACS website, SciFinder Scholar, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Web of Science and CNKI). Information was also gathered from 'Flora Republicae Popularis Sinicae (〈〈〉〉)', folk records, conference papers on ethnopharmacology, Ph.D. and Masters' Dissertation. RESULTS: Stellera plants have been studied as traditional folk medicines all around the world. The chemical constituents of Stellera species mainly comprise terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, lignans, and so on. Extracts and compounds of Stellera species exhibit extensive pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-convulsive, anti-epileptic, anti-bacterial and anti-insect activities, etc. Clinical applications have suggested that the genus Stellera has the effects in treating several skin diseases and cancers, however, the results should be further verification. The genus Stellera plants are toxic and should be used reasonable. CONCLUSION: This paper reviewed the ethnopharmacological uses, chemical constituents, pharmacology, clinical applications and toxicology of the genus Stellera. The genus Stellera has broad application prospects. However, further in-depth studies are needed to determine the medical uses of the genus and its chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, clinical applications and toxicology.