EARLY FLOWERING3-1 represses Grain number, plant height, and heading date7 to promote ABC1 REPRESSOR1 and regulate nitrogen uptake in rice.

The extensive use of nitrogen fertilizer boosts rice (Oryza sativa) production but also harms ecosystems. Therefore, enhancing crop nitrogen use efficiency is crucial. Here, we performed map-based cloning and identified the EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) like protein-encoding gene OsELF3-1, which confers enhanced nitrogen uptake in rice. OsELF3-1 forms a ternary complex (OsEC) with OsELF4s and OsLUX, the putative orthologs of ELF4 and LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), respectively. OsEC directly binds to the promoter of Grain number, plant height, and heading date7 (Ghd7) and represses its expression. Ghd7 encodes a transcription factor that has major effects on multiple agronomic traits. Ghd7 is also a transcriptional repressor and directly suppresses the expression of ABC1 REPRESSOR1 (ARE1), a negative regulator of nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, targeting the OsEC-Ghd7-ARE1 module offers an approach to enhance nitrogen uptake, presenting promising avenues for sustainable agriculture.

Progress in culture technology and active substance research on Nostoc sphaeroides Kützing.

Nostoc sphaeroides Kützing is a freshwater edible cyanobacterium that is rich in active substances such as polysaccharides, proteins and lipids; it has a variety of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and cholesterol-lowering effects; and is often used as a traditional Chinese medicine with many potential applications in food, cosmetics, medical diagnostics and disease treatment. However, to meet the needs of different fields, such as medicine, there is an urgent need for basic research and technological innovation in culture technology, extraction and preparation of active substances, and the pharmacological mechanism of N. sphaeroides. This paper reviews the pharmacological effects of N. sphaeroides active substances, discusses current culture techniques and methods for extracting active components, and outlines the challenges encountered in cultivating and industrializing N. sphaeroides while discussing future development trends. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Case report: A rare case of hereditary hemochromatosis caused by a mutation in the HAMP gene in Fuyang, China.

Hemochromatosis, also known as siderosis, is a disease caused by excessive iron deposition in human organs and tissues, resulting from iron metabolism disorders. It is clinically characterized by skin pigmentation (bronze color), liver cirrhosis, diabetes, weakness, and fatigue. Additional symptoms may include arthritis, hypothyroidism, heart failure, and sexual hypofunction. Clinical manifestations can vary from person to person, with a few patients showing no clinical manifestations, which makes the diagnosis difficult for clinicians. In this case report, we described hereditary hemochromatosis related to a mutation in the HAMP gene in Fuyang City, China, as a reference for clinicians. Hereditary hemochromatosis is rarely reported in China. Clinicians in China have relatively insufficient knowledge of this disease, which leads to frequent misdiagnosis. In this case report, we describe hereditary hemochromatosis related to HAMP gene mutation in Fuyang City, China, for the clinician's reference.

Dissecting the molecular basis of the ultra-large grain formation in rice.

The shape of rice grains not only determines the thousand-grain weight but also correlates closely with the grain quality. Here we identified an ultra-large grain accession (ULG) with a thousand-grain weight exceeding 60 g. The integrated analysis of QTL, BSA, de novo genome assembled, transcription sequencing, and gene editing was conducted to dissect the molecular basis of the ULG formation. The ULG pyramided advantageous alleles from at least four known grain-shaping genes, OsLG3, OsMADS1, GS3, GL3.1, and one novel locus, qULG2-b, which encoded a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase. The collective impacts of OsLG3, OsMADS1, GS3, and GL3.1 on grain size were confirmed in transgenic plants and near-isogenic lines. The transcriptome analysis identified 112 genes cooperatively regulated by these four genes that were prominently involved in photosynthesis and carbon metabolism. By leveraging the pleiotropy of these genes, we enhanced the grain yield, appearance, and stress tolerance of rice var. SN265. Beyond showcasing the pyramiding of multiple grain size regulation genes that can produce ULG, our study provides a theoretical framework and valuable genomic resources for improving rice variety by leveraging the pleiotropy of grain size regulated genes.

OPTICS: An interactive online platform for photosensory and bio-functional proteins in optogenetic systems.

High-precise modulation of bio-functional proteins related to signaling is crucial in life sciences and human health. The cutting-edge technology of optogenetics, which combines optical method with genetically encoded protein expression, pioneered new pathways for the control of cellular bio-functional proteins (CPs) using optogenetic tools (OTs) in spatial and temporal. Over the past decade, hundreds of optogenetic systems (OSs) have been developed for various applications from living cells to freely moving organisms. However, no database has been constructed to comprehensively provide the valuable information of OSs yet. In this work, a new database named OPTICS (an interactive online platform for photosensory and bio-functional proteins in optogenetic systems) is introduced. Our OPTICS is unique in (i) systematically describing diverse OSs from the perspective of photoreceptor-based classification and mechanism of action, (ii) featuring the detailed biophysical properties and functional data of OSs, (iii) providing the interaction between OT and CP for each OS referring to distinct applications in research, diagnosis, and therapy, and (iv) enabling a light response property-based search against all OSs in the database. Since the information on OSs is essential for rapid and predictable design of optogenetic controls, the comprehensive data provided in OPTICS lay a solid foundation for the future development of novel OSs. OPTICS is freely accessible without login requirement at https://idrblab.org/optics/.

The DEP1 Mutation Improves Stem Lodging Resistance and Biomass Saccharification by Affecting Cell Wall Biosynthesis in Rice.

BACKGROUND: Plant cell walls have evolved precise plasticity in response to environmental stimuli. The plant heterotrimeric G protein complexes could sense and transmit extracellular signals to intracellular signaling systems, and activate a series of downstream responses. dep1 (Dense and Erect Panicles 1), the gain-of-function mutation of DEP1 encoding a G protein γ subunit, confers rice multiple improved agronomic traits. However, the effects of DEP1 on cell wall biosynthesis and wall-related agronomic traits remain largely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we showed that the DEP1 mutation affects cell wall biosynthesis, leading to improved lodging resistance and biomass saccharification. The DEP1 is ubiquitously expressed with a relatively higher expression level in tissues rich in cell walls. The CRISPR/Cas9 editing mutants of DEP1 (dep1-cs) displayed a significant enhancement in stem mechanical properties relative to the wild-type, leading to a substantial improvement in lodging resistance. Cell wall analyses showed that the DEP1 mutation increased the contents of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectin, and reduced lignin content and cellulose crystallinity (CrI). Additionally, the dep1-cs seedlings exhibited higher sensitivity to cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors, 2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile (DCB) and isoxaben, compared with the wild-type, confirming the role of DEP1 in cellulose deposition. Moreover, the DEP1 mutation-mediated alterations of cell walls lead to increased enzymatic saccharification of biomass after the alkali pretreatment. Furthermore, the comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that the DEP1 mutation substantially altered expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and cell wall biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed the roles of DEP1 in cell wall biosynthesis, lodging resistance, and biomass saccharification in rice and suggested genetic modification of DEP1 as a potential strategy to develop energy rice varieties with high lodging resistance.

Assessment of nomogram model for the prediction of esophageal variceal hemorrhage in hepatitis B-induced hepatic cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal variceal (EV) hemorrhage is a life-threatening consequence of portal hypertension in hepatitis B virus (HBV) -induced cirrhotic patients. Screening upper endoscopy and endoscopic variceal ligation to find EVs for treatment have complications, contraindications, and high costs. We sought to identify the nomogram models (NMs) as alternative predictions for the risk of EV hemorrhage. METHODS: In this case-control study, we retrospectively analyzed 241 HBV-induced liver cirrhotic patients treated for EVs at the Second People's Hospital of Fuyang City, China from January 2021 to April 2023. We applied univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression to assess the accuracy of various NMs in EV hemorrhage. The area under the curve (AUC) and calibration curves of the receiver's operating characteristics were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the nomogram. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to determine the clinically relevant of nomograms. RESULTS: In the prediction group, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified platelet distribution and spleen length as independent risk factors for EVs. We applied NMs as the independent risk factors to predict EVs risk. The NMs fit well with the calibration curve and have good discrimination ability. The AUC and DCA demonstrated that NMs with a good net benefit. The above results were validated in the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: Our non-invasive NMs based on the platelet distribution width and spleen length may be used to predict EV hemorrhage in HBV-induced cirrhotic patients. NMs can help clinicians to increase diagnostic performance leading to improved treatment measures.

Machine learning-assisted high-content imaging analysis of 3D MCF7 microtissues for estrogenic effect prediction.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) pose a significant threat to human well-being and the ecosystem. However, in managing the many thousands of uncharacterized chemical entities, the high-throughput screening of EDCs using relevant biological endpoints remains challenging. Three-dimensional (3D) culture technology enables the development of more physiologically relevant systems in more realistic biochemical microenvironments. The high-content and quantitative imaging techniques enable quantifying endpoints associated with cell morphology, cell-cell interaction, and microtissue organization. In the present study, 3D microtissues formed by MCF-7 breast cancer cells were exposed to the model EDCs estradiol (E2) and propyl pyrazole triol (PPT). A 3D imaging and image analysis pipeline was established to extract quantitative image features from estrogen-exposed microtissues. Moreover, a machine-learning classification model was built using estrogenic-associated differential imaging features. Based on 140 common differential image features found between the E2 and PPT group, the classification model predicted E2 and PPT exposure with AUC-ROC at 0.9528 and 0.9513, respectively. Deep learning-assisted analysis software was developed to characterize microtissue gland lumen formation. The fully automated tool can accurately characterize the number of identified lumens and the total luminal volume of each microtissue. Overall, the current study established an integrated approach by combining non-supervised image feature profiling and supervised luminal volume characterization, which reflected the complexity of functional ER signaling and highlighted a promising conceptual framework for estrogenic EDC risk assessment.