Two interacting basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors control flowering time in rice.

Flowering time is one of the most important agronomic traits affecting the adaptation and yield of rice (Oryza sativa). Heading date 1 (Hd1) is a key factor in the photoperiodic control of flowering time. In this study, two basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, Hd1 Binding Protein 1 (HBP1) and Partner of HBP1 (POH1) were identified as transcriptional regulators of Hd1. We generated knockout mutants of HBP1 and ectopically expressed transgenic lines of the two bHLH transcription factors and used these lines to investigate the roles of these two factors in regulating flowering time. HBP1 physically associated with POH1 forming homo- or heterodimers to perform their functions. Both HBP1 and POH1 bound directly to the cis-acting elements located in the promoter of Hd1 to activate its expression. CRISPR/Cas9-generated knockout mutations of HBP1, but not POH1 mutations, promoted earlier flowering time; conversely, HBP1 and POH1 overexpression delayed flowering time in rice under long-day and short-day conditions by activating the expression of Hd1 and suppressing the expression of Early heading date 1 (Ehd1), Heading date 3a (Hd3a), and Rice Flowering locus T 1 (RFT1), thus controlling flowering time in rice. Our findings revealed a mechanism for flowering time control through transcriptional regulation of Hd1 and laid theoretical and practical foundations for improving the growth period, adaptation, and yield of rice.

Decoupling emissions of greenhouse gas, urbanization, energy and income: analysis from the economy of China.

The adoption and ratification of relevant policies, particularly the household enrolment system metamorphosis in China, led to rising urbanization growth. As the leading developing economy, China has experienced a drastic and rapid increase in the rate of urbanization, energy use, economic growth and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution for the past 30 years. The knowledge of the dynamic interrelationships among these trends has a plethora of implications ranging from demographic, energy, and environmental and sustainable development policies. This study analyzes the role of urbanization in decoupling GHG emissions, energy, and income in China while considering the critical contribution of energy use. As a contribution to the extant body of literature, the present research introduces a new phenomenon called "the environmental urbanization Kuznets curve" (EUKC), which shows that at the early stage of urbanization, the environment degrades however, after a threshold point the technique effects surface and environmental degradation reduces with rise in urbanization. Applying the autoregressive distributed lag model and the vector error correction model, the paper finds the presence of inverted U-shaped curve between urbanization and GHG emission of CO2, while the same hypothesis cannot be found between income and GHG emission of CO2. Energy use in all the models contributes to GHG emission of CO2. In decoupling greenhouse gas emissions, urbanization, energy, and income, articulated and well-implemented energy and urbanization policies should be considered.

Differential expression of microRNAs in plasma of patients with prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are present in plasma and have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression at posttranscriptional level, and thus are involved in various human diseases, including diabetes. The objective of this study was to screen and validate differentially expressed plasma miRNAs in prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: In this study, we screened differentially expressed plasma miRNAs in prediabetes and newly diagnosed T2D by miRNA microarray analysis, and validated the expression of candidate miRNAs using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Furthermore, we performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses to disclose functional enrichment of genes predicted to be regulated by the differentially expressed miRNAs. RESULTS: Notably, our results revealed that hsa-miR-1249, hsa-miR-320b, and hsa-miR-572 (P < 0.05) were differentially expressed among the three groups, which yielded an area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.784 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.685-0.883], 0.946 (95 % CI 0.906-0.985), and 0.843 (95 % CI 0.766-0.920) discriminating T2D patients from NGT control groups, respectively, while the AUC was 0.887 (95 % CI 0.818-0.957), 0.635 (95 % CI 0.525-0.744), and 0.69 (95 % CI 0.580-0.793) discriminating prediabetes patients from NGT control groups, respectively. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that genes predicted to be regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs were significantly enriched in several related biological processes and pathways, including the development of multicellular organisms, signal transduction, cell differentiation, apoptosis, cell metabolism, ion transport regulation, and other biological functions. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results showed differentially expressed miRNAs in T2D and prediabetes. Plasma hsa-miR-1249, hsa-miR-320b, and hsa-miR-572 may serve as novel biomarkers for diagnosis and potential targets for the treatment for prediabetes and T2D.