Structural and functional reorganization of inhibitory synapses by activity-dependent cleavage of neuroligin-2.

Recent evidence has demonstrated that the transsynaptic nanoscale organization of synaptic proteins plays a crucial role in regulating synaptic strength in excitatory synapses. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this transsynaptic nanostructure in inhibitory synapses still remains unclear and its impact on synapse function in physiological or pathological contexts has not been demonstrated. In this study, we utilized an engineered proteolysis technique to investigate the effects of acute cleavage of neuroligin-2 (NL2) on synaptic transmission. Our results show that the rapid cleavage of NL2 led to impaired synaptic transmission by reducing both neurotransmitter release probability and quantum size. These changes were attributed to the dispersion of RIM1/2 and GABAA receptors and a weakened spatial alignment between them at the subsynaptic scale, as observed through superresolution imaging and model simulations. Importantly, we found that endogenous NL2 undergoes rapid MMP9-dependent cleavage during epileptic activities, which further exacerbates the decrease in inhibitory transmission. Overall, our study demonstrates the significant impact of nanoscale structural reorganization on inhibitory transmission and unveils ongoing modulation of mature GABAergic synapses through active cleavage of NL2 in response to hyperactivity.

Morphological and molecular analyses reveal two new species of Grifola (Polyporales) from Yunnan, China.

Species of Grifola are famous edible mushrooms and are deeply loved by consumers around the world. Most species of this genus have been described and recorded in Oceania, Europe and South America, with only Grifolafrondosa being recorded in Asia. In this study, two novel species of Grifola from southwestern China (Asia) are introduced. Macro and micromorphological characters are described. Grifolaedulissp. nov. present medium-size basidiomata with gray to gray-brown lobes upper surface, mostly tibiiform or narrowly clavate, rarely narrowly lageniform or ellipsoid chlamydospores, cuticle hyphae terminal segments slightly enlarged. Grifolasinensissp. nov. has white to grayish white lobes upper surface, mostly ellipsoid, rarely narrowly utriform chlamydospores, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores (4.6-7.9 × 3.0-5.9 µm). The two new species are supported by phylogenetic analyses of combined nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA (ITS) and ß-tubulin (TUBB). Moreover, the genetic distance between TUBB sequences of those specimen from GenBank was 1.76-1.9%. Thus, the conspecificity relationship of our specimens remains uncertain, and further specimens are required to conclusively confirm its identity.

Role and therapeutic target of P2X2/3 receptors in visceral pain.

Visceral pain (VP) is caused by internal organ disease. VP is involved in nerve conduction and related signaling molecules, but its specific pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Currently, there are no effective methods for treating VP. The role of P2X2/3 in VP has progressed. After visceral organs are subjected to noxious stimulation, cells release ATP, activate P2X2/3, enhance the sensitivity of peripheral receptors and the plasticity of neurons, enhance sensory information transmission, sensitize the central nervous system, and play an important role in the development of VP. However, antagonists possess the pharmacological effect of relieving pain. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the biological functions of P2X2/3 and discuss the intrinsic link between P2X2/3 and VP. Moreover, we focus on the pharmacological effects of P2X2/3 antagonists on VP therapy and provide a theoretical basis for its targeted therapy.

Mitochondrial dysfunction of induced pluripotent stem cells-based neurodegenerative disease modeling and therapeutic strategy.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are disorders in which neurons are lost owing to various factors, resulting in a series of dysfunctions. Their rising prevalence and irreversibility have brought physical pain to patients and economic pressure to both individuals and society. However, the pathogenesis of NDDs has not yet been fully elucidated, hampering the use of precise medication. Induced pluripotent stem cell (IPSC) modeling provides a new method for drug discovery, and exploring the early pathological mechanisms including mitochondrial dysfunction, which is not only an early but a prominent pathological feature of NDDs. In this review, we summarize the iPSC modeling approach of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as outline typical mitochondrial dysfunction and recapitulate corresponding therapeutic strategies.

Species diversity of Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae, Polyporales) with three new species and a key to Ganoderma in Yunnan Province, China.

Ganoderma is a globally distributed genus that encompasses species with forestry ecological, medicinal, economic, and cultural importance. Despite the importance of this fungus, the studies on the species diversity of Ganoderma in Yunnan Province, China (YPC) have poorly been carried out. During this study, opportunistic sampling was used to collect 21 specimens of Ganoderma from YPC. Morphology and multigene phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1-α), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) were used to identify them. Morphological and molecular characterization of the 21 specimens showed that they belong to 18 species of Ganoderma, of which three are novel viz. G. artocarpicola, G. obscuratum and G. yunnanense. Ganoderma artocarpicola is characterized by the sessile and concrescent basidiomata, reddish brown to yellowish brown pileus surface, heterogeneous context, wavy margin, and ovoid basidiospores. Ganoderma obscuratum is distinguished by small pores (6-9 per mm), dorsolaterally sub-stipitate basidiomata which become greyish-brown when dry, and narrow ellipsoid basidiospores. Ganoderma yunnanense is characterized by cream color pore surface and context, centrally to laterally stipitate basidiomata with reddish-brown to violet-brown strongly laccate pileus surface, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores. With the help of an extensive literature survey and the results of this study, a checklist of 32 Ganoderma species from YPC was established, which accounts for 71.11% of the known species in China. In addition, a key to the Ganoderma in YPC is also provided.

Identification, Molecular Cloning, and Functional Characterization of a Coniferyl Alcohol Acyltransferase Involved in the Biosynthesis of Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans in Schisandra chinensis.

Schisandra chinensis owes its therapeutic efficacy to the dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, which are limited to the Schisandraceae family and whose biosynthetic pathway has not been elucidated. Coniferyl alcohol is the synthetic precursor of various types of lignans and can be acetylated to form coniferyl acetate by coniferyl alcohol acyltransferase (CFAT), which belongs to the BAHD acyltransferase family. This catalytic reaction is important because it is the first committed step of the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway in which coniferyl alcohol gives rise to dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans. However, the gene encoding CFAT in S. chinensis has not been identified. In this study, firstly we identified 37 ScBAHD genes from the transcriptome datasets of S. chinensis. According to bioinformatics, phylogenetic, and expression profile analyses, 1 BAHD gene, named ScBAHD1, was cloned from S. chinensis. The heterologous expression in Escherichia coli and in vitro activity assays revealed that the recombinant enzyme of ScBAHD1 exhibits acetyltransferase activity with coniferyl alcohol and some other alcohol substrates by using acetyl-CoA as the acetyl donor, which indicates ScBAHD1 functions as ScCFAT. Subcellular localization analysis showed that ScCFAT is mainly located in the cytoplasm. In addition, we generated a three-dimensional (3D) structure of ScCFAT by homology modeling and explored the conformational interaction between protein and ligands by molecular docking simulations. Overall, this study identified the first enzyme with catalytic activity from the Schisandraceae family and laid foundations for future investigations to complete the biosynthetic pathway of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans.

Spinal dI4 Interneuron Differentiation From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Spinal interneurons (INs) form intricate local networks in the spinal cord and regulate not only the ascending and descending nerve transduction but also the central pattern generator function. They are therefore potential therapeutic targets in spinal cord injury and diseases. In this study, we devised a reproducible protocol to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) from enriched spinal dI4 inhibitory GABAergic INs. The protocol is designed based on developmental principles and optimized by using small molecules to maximize its reproducibility. The protocol comprises induction of neuroepithelia, patterning of neuroepithelia to dorsal spinal progenitors, expansion of the progenitors in suspension, and finally differentiation into mature neurons. In particular, we employed both morphogen activators and inhibitors to restrict or "squeeze" the progenitor fate during the stage of neural patterning. We use retinoic acid (RA) which ventralizes cells up to the mid-dorsal region, with cyclopamine (CYC), an SHH inhibitor, to antagonize the ventralization effect of RA, yielding highly enriched dI4 progenitors (90% Ptf1a+, 90.7% Ascl1+). The ability to generate enriched spinal dI4 GABAergicINs will likely facilitate the study of human spinal IN development and regenerative therapies for traumatic injuries and diseases of the spinal cord.

Multidisciplinary team therapy for left giant adrenocortical carcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial tumor originating from adrenocortical cells that carries a very poor prognosis. Metastatic or inoperable diseases are often considered incurable, and treatment remains a challenge. Especially for advanced cases such as ACC complicated with renal venous cancer thrombus, there are few cumulative cases in the literature. CASE SUMMARY: The patient in this case was a 39-year-old middle-aged male who was admitted to the hospital for more than half a month due to dizziness and chest tightness. Computed tomography (CT) findings after admission revealed a left retroperitoneal malignant space-occupying lesion, but the origin of the formation of the left renal vein cancer thrombus remained to be determined. It was speculated that it originated from the left adrenal gland, perhaps a retroperitoneal source, and left adrenal mass + left nephrectomy + left renal vein tumor thrombus removal + angioplasty were performed under general anesthesia. Postoperative pathology results indicated a diagnosis of ACC. Postoperative steroid therapy was administered. At 3 mo after surgery, abdominal CT reexamination revealed multiple enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes and multiple low-density shadows in the liver, and palliative radiotherapy and mitotane were administered, considering the possibility of metastasis. The patient is currently being followed up. CONCLUSION: ACC is a highly malignant tumor. Even if the tumor is removed surgically, there is still the possibility of recurrence. Postoperative mitotane and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy have certain benefits for patients, but they cannot fully offset the poor prognosis of this disease.

bHLH transcription factor SmbHLH92 negatively regulates biosynthesis of phenolic acids and tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Objective: Salvia miltiorrhiza is a valuable herbal medicine with tanshinone and phenolic acid as the main biological active ingredients. The biosynthetic regulation of these bioactive compounds is controlled by a set of transcription factors (TFs). The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor plays an important role in various physiological and biochemical processes in plants. However, research on bHLH TFs regulating phenolic acid or tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza is limited. Methods: qRT-PCR was used for gene expression analysis. The subcellular localization of SmbHLH92 was detected by SmbHLH92-GFP transient transformation into tobacco leaves, and its fluorescence was observed using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The transcriptional activity of SmbHLH92 was confirmed in the AH109 yeast strain. RNA interference hairy roots of SmbHLH92-RNAi transgenic lines were obtained through Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to detect the changes of phenolic acids and tanshinones. Results: SmbHLH92 is a bHLH transcription factor that is highly expressed in the root and phloem of S. miltiorrhiza. The subcellular localization and transcriptional activity of SmbHLH92 indicated that SmbHLH92 was located in the nucleus and may be a transcription factor. RNA interference (RNAi) of SmbHLH92 in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza significantly increased the accumulation of phenolic acid and tanshinone. Quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis showed the transcription level of genes encoding the key enzymes involved in the phenolic acid and tanshinone biosynthetic pathways was increased in the hairy roots of the SmbHLH92-RNAi transgenic line, comparing with the control line. Conclusion: These data indicate that SmbHLH92 is a negative regulator involved in the regulation of phenolic acid and tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza.

[Role of Pim1 Gene Overexpression in Pathogenesis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Pim1 expression up-regulation on cell proliferation, apoptosis, chemotaxis and angiogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line U937, and to explore the possible molecular mechanism involved, finally to estimate the Pim1 expression in primary AML cells. METHODS: GFP-tagged plasmid for Pim1 overexpression and an empty vector plasmid were constructed, and then a stable Pim1 expressed U937 cell line and a control virus-infected U937 cell line were established by a lentiviral vector system. After confirming Pim1 overexpression in U937 cells, proliferation and apoptosis are determined by CCK-8 Kit and flow cytometry respectively. Transwell chemotaxis assay was used to measure the effect of Pim1 overexpression on AML cells. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy were applied to detect the influence of Pim1 overexpression on phosphorylated CXCR4 (pCXCR4) and its location. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to detect the expression of angiogenesis and adhesion related genes in AML primary cells. RESULTS: The lentivirus-infected AML cell line with Pim1 overex-pression and the control virusinfected AML cell line were established successfully. The Pim1 overexpression could enhance the proliferation and inhibit the cell apoptosis, moreover accompnied with the increasing expression of cyclin D1, phosphorylated BAD (pBAD) and pCXCR4. After SDF-1 α stimuli, Pim1 overexpression induced AML cell chemotaxis accompanied with p-CXCR4 expression and calcium influx increment. Pim1 overexpression has no effect on angiogenesis. Pim1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in AML patients than the healthy people. CONCLUSION: Pim1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AML, which not only promotes AML cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis, but also enhances the chemotactic ability of leukemia cells, which closely relates with Pim1 phosphorylation of CXCR4 and the increase of intracellular calcium ion influx signals.

Long noncoding RNA SYISL regulates myogenesis by interacting with polycomb repressive complex 2.

Although many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in muscle, their physiological function and regulatory mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically characterized the expression profiles of lncRNAs during C2C12 myoblast differentiation and identified an intronic lncRNA, SYISL (SYNPO2 intron sense-overlapping lncRNA), that is highly expressed in muscle. Functionally, SYISL promotes myoblast proliferation and fusion but inhibits myogenic differentiation. SYISL knockout in mice results in significantly increased muscle fiber density and muscle mass. Mechanistically, SYISL recruits the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) protein, the core component of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), to the promoters of the cell-cycle inhibitor gene p21 and muscle-specific genes such as myogenin (MyoG), muscle creatine kinase (MCK), and myosin heavy chain 4 (Myh4), leading to H3K27 trimethylation and epigenetic silencing of target genes. Taken together, our results reveal that SYISL is a repressor of muscle development and plays a vital role in PRC2-mediated myogenesis.

Preoperative platelet-albumin-bilirubin grades predict the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after liver resection: A retrospective study.

Minimal information is available concerning platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) grades in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following liver resection. This study aimed to investigate the predictive ability of PALBI grades in patients with a Child-Pugh class A score and hepatitis B virus-related (HBV-related) HCC after liver resection.The data of patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent liver resection from 2010 to 2017 at our center were reviewed (n = 785). Cox regression was used to determine factors independently associated with postoperative recurrence and mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to estimate the predictive accuracy of different tools.During the follow-up period, 505 (64.3%) patients experienced recurrence, and 374 (47.6%) patients died. Multivariate analysis revealed that the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (HR = 1.591, 95%CI = 1.414-1.789, P < .001), PALBI grade (HR = 1.326, 95%CI = 1.139-1.544, P < .001), a high AFP level (HR = 1.382, 95%CI = 1.158-1.649, P < .001) and transfusion (HR = 1.364, 95%CI = 1.087-1.712, P = 0.007) were independently associated with recurrence. Additionally, microvascular invasion (HR = 1.674, 95%CI = 1.292-2.169, P < .001), beyond the Milan criteria (HR = 0.477, 95%CI = 0.346-0.657, P < .001), PALBI grade (HR = 1.356, 95%CI = 1.151-1.598, P < .001), a high AFP level (HR = 1.542, 95%CI = 1.252-1.900, P < .001), and transfusion (HR = 1.548, 95%CI = 1.199-1.999, P = 0.001) adversely impacted the overall survival. The AUCs of the PALBI grades for postoperative recurrence and mortality were significantly higher than the albumin-bilirubin grade and Child-Pugh score. The prognostic significance of the PALBI grade for postoperative recurrence and mortality was maintained when stratified by the TNM stage.The preoperative PALBI grade is a surrogate marker for the postoperative prognosis in patients with HBV-related HCC after liver resection.

iTRAQ and RNA-Seq Analyses Provide New Insights into Regulation Mechanism of Symbiotic Germination of Dendrobium officinale Seeds (Orchidaceae).

Mycorrhizal fungi colonize orchid seeds and induce germination. This so-called symbiotic germination is a critical developmental process in the lifecycle of all orchid species. However, the molecular changes that occur during orchid seed symbiotic germination remain largely unknown. To better understand the molecular mechanism of orchid seed germination, we performed a comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the Chinese traditional medicinal orchid Dendrobium officinale to explore the change in protein expression at the different developmental stages during asymbiotic and symbiotic germination and identify the key proteins that regulate the symbiotic germination of orchid seeds. Among 2256 identified plant proteins, 308 were differentially expressed across three developmental stages during asymbiotic and symbiotic germination, and 229 were differentially expressed during symbiotic germination compared to asymbiotic development. Of these, 32 proteins were coup-regulated at both the proteomic and transcriptomic levels during symbiotic germination compared to asymbiotic germination. Our results suggest that symbiotic germination of D. officinale seeds shares a common signaling pathway with asymbiotic germination during the early germination stage. However, compared to asymbiotic germination, fungal colonization of orchid seeds appears to induce higher and earlier expression of some key proteins involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and thus improves the efficiency of utilization of stored substances present in the embryo. This study provides new insight into the molecular basis of orchid seed germination.

Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants: problems, progress, and prospects.

Medicinal plants are globally valuable sources of herbal products, and they are disappearing at a high speed. This article reviews global trends, developments and prospects for the strategies and methodologies concerning the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plant resources to provide a reliable reference for the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants. We emphasized that both conservation strategies (e.g. in situ and ex situ conservation and cultivation practices) and resource management (e.g. good agricultural practices and sustainable use solutions) should be adequately taken into account for the sustainable use of medicinal plant resources. We recommend that biotechnical approaches (e.g. tissue culture, micropropagation, synthetic seed technology, and molecular marker-based approaches) should be applied to improve yield and modify the potency of medicinal plants.

Selection and validation of reference genes for normalization of quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis in Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Fuling).

BACKGROUND: Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) requires a stable internal control to avoid misinterpretation of data or errors for gene expression normalization. However, there are still no validated reference genes for stable internal control in Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Fuling). This study aims to validate the reference genes of P. cocos. METHODS: This study firstly collected the 14 candidate reference genes by BLASTP from the genome of P. cocos for qRT-PCR analysis to determine the expression levels of 14 housekeeping genes (GAPDH, MAPK, ß-Act, RPB2, RPB1-1, RPB1-2, his3-1, his3-2, APT, SAMDC, RP, ß-Tub, EIF, and CYP) under different temperatures and in response to different plant hormones (indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine, methyl jasmonate, and gibberellic acid), and the threshold cycle (Ct) values. The results were analyzed by four programs (i.e., geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder) for evaluating the candidate reference genes. RESULTS: SAMDC, his3-2, RP, RPB2, and his3-1 were recommended as reference genes for treating P. cocos with indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine, methyl jasmonate, and gibberellic acid, respectively. Under different temperatures RPB2 was the most stable reference gene. CYP was the most stable gene for all 90 samples by RefFinder. CONCLUSION: SAMDC, his3-2, RP, RPB2, and his3-1 were evaluated to be suitable reference genes for P. cocos following different treatments. RPB2 was the most stable reference gene under different temperatures and CYP was the most stable gene in the mycelia under all six evaluated conditions.

[Transcriptome characterization of Ephedra sinica with 454 ESTs].

Using the latest 454 GS FLX platform and Titanium regent, a substantial expressed sequence tag (ESTs) dataset of Ephedra sinica was produced, and the profile of gene expression and function gene of which were investigated. A total of 48 389 reads with an average length of 373 bp were generated. These 454 reads were assembled into 18 801 unigenes, which were all 454 sequencing identified. A total number of 10 531 unigenes(56.0%) were annotated using BLAST searches (E-value≤1×10⁻5) against the Nr, Nt, TAIR, SwissProt and KEGG databases. With respect to genes related to ephedrine biosynthesis, 19 unigenes(encoding 9 enzymes) were found. A total of 97 putative genes encoding cytochrome P450s were also discovered. Data presented in this study will provide an important resource for the scientific community that is interested in the functional genomics and secondary metabolism of E. sinica.

[Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase（PcHDR1）gene in Phlegmarirus carinatus].

The open reading frame of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase (HDR) was cloned from Phlegmarirus carinatus by RT-PCR method and the sequence was analyzed by bioinformatics tools. After searching the transcriptome dataset of P. carinatus, one unique sequence encoding 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase was discovered. The primers were designed according to the cDNA sequence of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase from the dataset. And then, the open reading frame (ORF) of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase, named as PcHDR1 (GenBank Accession number：JQ957845), was cloned by RT-PCR strategy with the template of mixed RNA extracted from roots, stem and leaf of P. carinatus. The bioinformatic analysis of this gene and its corresponding protein was performed. The ORF of PcHDR1 consisted of 1 437 base pairs (bp), encoding one polypeptide with 478 amino acids. The sequence comparison showed that PcHDR1 is closest with GbHDR (Ginkgo biloba),and the sequence homology was up to 78%. Bioinformatics prediction and analysis indicated that PcHDR1 protein contained a conserved domain of LytB, without transmembrane region and signal peptides. This study cloned and analyzed 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase from P. carinatus. The result will provide a foundation for exploring the function of PcHDR1 involved in terpene biosynthesis in P. carinatus plants.

[Research progress of the regulation on active compound biosynthesis by the bHLH transcription factors in plants].

Transcription factor is one of the key factors in the regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional level. It plays an important role in plant growth, active components biosynthesis and response to environmental change. This paper summarized the structure and classification of bHLH transcription factors and elaborated the research progress of bHLH transcription factors which regulate the active components in plants, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. In addition, the possibility of increasing the concentration of active substances by bHLH in medicinal plants was assessed. The paper emphasized great significance of model plants and multidisciplinary research fields including modern genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics, providing the contribution to improve the discovery and function characterization of bHLH transcription factors. Accelerating the research in the mechanism of bHLH transcription factors on the regulation of active components biosynthesis will promote the development of breeding and variety improvement of Chinese medicinal materials, also ease the pressure of resources exhaustion of traditional Chinese medicine home and abroad.

[Progress in the study of Velvet and LaeA proteins and their relation to the development and bioactive compounds in medicinal fungi].

The medicinal fungi, which are of great importance in traditional medicine, are facing the problems of wild resources scarcity and low concentration of bioactive compounds. Velvet family and LaeA global regulator play a vital role in secondary metabolism and developmental programs, which are found in a wide variety of fungi ranging from Chytridiomycota to Basidiomycota. This review elaborates the structures and functions between Velvet family and LaeA protein. The Velvet family which shares the Velvet protein domain, including VeA (Velvet), VelB (Velvet like B), VosA (viability of spores A) and VelC (Velvet like C), acts on the regulation function is secondary metabolism and developmental programs such as asexual and sexual development. Furthermore, the function is affected by environmental factors such as light and temperature. LaeA protein which owns S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase domain, coordinately regulates development and secondary metabolism by regulating and modifying the Velvet proteins. The regulation of LaeA is mediated by light receptor proteins. Therefore, clarifying the mechanism of Velvet and LaeA proteins in medicinal fungi will pave the way for nurturing medicinal fungi and improving production of bioactive compounds.

[Salvia miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant].

Research on medicinal model organism is one of the core technologies to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The research progress of Salvia miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant is summarized in this paper. The genome of S. miltiorrhiza is small and its life cycle is short, as well as this plant can be stably genetically transformed. Because S. miltiorrhiza possesses the important medicinal and economic values, recently the transcriptome and genome of S. miltiorrhiza have been significantly recovered. The research prospect of S. miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant in TCM was discussed, including biosynthesis of active components and their genetic regulation, relationship between quality of TCM and ecological environments, and selective breeding of good quality lines. Furthermore, as medicinal model plant, the construction of mutant library for S. miltiorrhiza, the genome map with high quality, and the functional genome should be investigated. Accompanying modern investigation of life sciences, the platform for medicinal model plant, S. miltiorrhiza, will be promoted to be established. It is important to develop the ethnopharmacology and new drugs around the world.